Planning Board to meet with code officials on electronic message signs; staff proposes phased enforcement approach

Planning Board members on June 17 agreed to pursue a small working meeting with code staff to discuss enforcement and potential changes to rules for electronic message signs.

The conversation is a staff-initiated follow-up to prior discussions about electronic-message signage and compliance in commercial districts. The goal is to clarify enforcement practices, improve education for code officers and consider policy approaches to grandfathered signs.

"The enforcement of the signs is probably pretty low and maybe mostly because of, education on the sign code," Planning Board member Barry McCracken said, recommending that two board members meet with Code Official Tamara Nelson and a Second Ward alderman for a focused discussion. McCracken said he and staff had discussed taking two board members (to avoid a quorum) to meet with code staff for training and to review enforcement practices.

Tamara Nelson was identified by staff as the city’s building-and-code official; staff said she has long experience in enforcement. Board members discussed enforcement symptoms — blinking electronic signs, signs restored after being asked to turn off lights — and possible policy responses. One approach staff suggested was a phased "slow amortization": give a firm advance date (for example 18 months to two years) after which grandfathered electronic signs would no longer be allowed, giving businesses time to plan.

Board members agreed the initial step should be a small meeting with code staff and relevant alderman to outline priorities and education needs; no formal text amendment or ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting. Staff said follow-up could include a presentation to committee or ordinance review if the board wanted to pursue regulatory change.