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Council debates proposed temporary-sign rules; motion to reconsider fails
Summary
Councilors debated proposed limits on temporary signs — including a one-30-day-per-quarter rule and a 32-square-foot maximum — and several members said the rules risk hampering promotion of community events.
Councilors spent substantial time on Feb. 18 debating a proposed update to the city’s temporary-sign regulations that would set explicit limits on number, size and duration of temporary signs.
Planner John Nisley presented the proposed changes, which would allow a single temporary sign per business for one continuous 30-day period in each four-month window (one 30-day period per quarter), cap sign surface size at 32 square feet in commercial districts and cap sign height at eight feet. The draft also added rules limiting illumination and clarified that temporary signs would be in addition to the base sign allowance for a property.
Council President Becker and other councilors raised concerns the ordinance could unintentionally restrict promotion of civic events and create increased calls to staff. “I just I can't approve it as it is,” Becker said, citing constituent concerns about promoting community events. Another councilor said the draft felt like a “broad brush” that could spur more staff work and community confusion.
After discussion a motion was made to reconsider the ordinance (to send it back for more study). Director Jorgensen called a roll; the roll-call responses recorded in the transcript for the reconsideration motion were “No” from the councilors called, and the motion to reconsider failed during the meeting. Council members then discussed whether to invest staff time in further revisions; some said they would not prioritize further staff work at this time.
No final adoption amending the code was recorded during the Feb. 18 meeting; staff and council agreed the planning commission would handle any substantive draft revisions if the council directs further review.
