Marshall City council adopts updated sign ordinance replacing Division 80662

Marshall City Council on Monday adopted an ordinance repealing and replacing Division 80662 of the city code to modernize sign rules, including new definitions, clearer sign-size calculations and a summary table of permitted signage.

City staff presenter Ilya Gutman told the council the current sign ordinance dates to 1976 and is outdated. “The current sign ordinance has been in place since 1976 and with very few changes. So basically, it's outdated and doesn't meet current conditions. Like, for example, digital signs are really not even mentioned there,” Gutman said. He said the replacement consolidates sign-related definitions in one place and changes how maximum sign size is calculated to make the rules easier to follow.

The ordinance adds a table that summarizes allowable sign types and sizes, consolidates definitions formerly scattered through the code, and updates the code to recognize modern sign technologies. The city attorney, identified as Alia, told the council the ordinance was reviewed to ensure compliance with First Amendment and relevant Supreme Court rulings: “No. We worked really long and hard on this,” she said. A member of the Legislative Ordinance Committee said the committee reviewed the draft several times and recommended approval.

Councilmember Amanda moved the ordinance, Jim seconded the motion, and the council voted to adopt the replacement ordinance. No effective date or ordinance number was specified in the meeting record.

The ordinance had been heard at the planning commission and at Legislative Ordinance Committee meetings; staff said a public hearing had been held during the planning commission process. The replacement is intended to make the sign code more straightforward for property owners and applicants to apply.

No amendments or vote tallies by individual council members were recorded in the public transcript.