Planning commission holds extended study session on new sign ordinance; staff to form ad hoc committee

The planning commission devoted a major portion of its June 17 meeting to a study session on a proposed sign ordinance. Staff presented a draft that would: create administrative (ministerial) sign permits for many permanent signs; clarify exemptions for routine repair or face changes; require a master sign program for parcels with two or more businesses; prohibit billboards; and tighten restrictions on flashing, moving or electronic display signs.

Associate planner Jacob Dunn and Community Development Director Jennifer Gates summarized the draft’s key points. Staff said portable and temporary signs would be regulated by the proposed code but that changes to an existing sign face (for example, changing a tenant name) would generally not require a new permit. The draft also would require a master sign program for parcels that host two or more businesses so the aggregate area of signage is coordinated across the property.

Commissioners asked for clearer policy framing and more objective standards in several areas. Commissioner Barnett and others asked how often the sign standards are updated and whether the city should add plaza‑specific rules to preserve the downtown character. Chair and other commissioners asked staff to identify a clear “intent” paragraph explaining what the city is trying to achieve (for example: protect downtown character, maintain safety, limit nighttime illumination). Several commissioners said they preferred prohibiting specific unwanted treatments (for example flashing or moving signs) rather than relying on vague aesthetics language.

Staff noted some specific technical items that would be addressed in the draft: limitations on electronic displays (the draft limits digital signs in some contexts to 2 square feet and to operation until 10 p.m.), standards to confine light so fixtures are "fully shielded" and do not create glare, and a strategy to grandfather existing legal nonconforming signage. Jennifer Gates told the commission that a citywide historic resources survey could change triggers for historic resource evaluations and that "if the budget gets approved tomorrow, I have a good portion of funds already identified for this next fiscal year to complete it."

Public comment included a short statement by local sign business owner Robert Sanders, who said he supported the proposal’s list of administrative exemptions and volunteered to serve on an ad hoc. Sanders: "This is awesome."

The commission directed staff to convene an ad hoc working group to refine standards and recommended areas for objective rules, with volunteer interest from commissioners and staff and a member of the public. No code changes were adopted at the meeting; the item remains a study session and will return to the commission for additional review with ad hoc input.