Central council reverts temporary sign ‘cool-down’ to 15 days, adopts related sign-regulation changes

The Central City Council voted Thursday to keep a 15-day “cool-down” period between temporary-sign permits and to approve related procedural changes to the city’s zoning code.

The council returned the buffer period for temporary signs to 15 days after debate over whether extending the buffer to 30 days would harm small and seasonal businesses. Council member Aaron McKinney moved to approve the ordinance as written with the 15-day buffer; the motion was seconded by Council member Roy and passed in a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

Council members and staff described the change as an attempt to balance enforcement and business needs. McKinney said a 15-day buffer would allow businesses with short seasonal or holiday sales to advertise twice in a period that a 30-day buffer could prohibit. A staff representative, referencing prior enforcement complaints, said the intent of the package is to make the sign code enforceable while preventing the cityscape from becoming cluttered.

Separately, the council approved TA 924, an ordinance that consolidates and clarifies procedural provisions across the city code and Unified Development Code and adds sign specifications. Council action included an amendment from the planning commission requiring black letters and limiting “pod” signs to 4 feet by 8 feet; Council member McKinney moved the motion to approve and Council member Meyer seconded. The roll call showed unanimous support from members present.

Planning commission records noted prior commission votes recommending approval of the amendments with specific edits. The council record shows the city will inform applicants after hearings to remove signs when appropriate; staff said there is no code requirement to remove a sign automatically after a meeting date, but staff can notify applicants to do so.

What happens next: Both ordinances were approved as amended and will be incorporated into the city’s Unified Development Code and procedural appendix. Enforcement, including outreach to small-business owners, will be handled by city staff under the revised rules.

For transparency: The council and planning commission discussed both TA 824 (temporary-sign timing and related matters) and TA 924 (procedures and sign-specification consolidations). Commission votes on the package were recorded as 5 yays, 0 nays, 2 absent; council roll calls recorded unanimous yes votes among members present when the council acted.