Council asks staff to return with draft A‑frame rules for sidewalks, design and ADA compliance

The Santa Ana City Council asked staff to draft a narrowly focused ordinance to allow A‑frame (sandwich‑board) signs in designated commercial areas, after business owners asked for a simpler, lower‑cost way to promote sidewalk traffic.

Councilmember Lopez brought the item forward citing downtown merchants who said they receive citations for A‑frame signs. Members said a targeted approach limited to specified commercial corridors is preferable to undertaking a full rewrite of the city’s sign code, which would be broader and legally complex.

Council direction and concerns - Staff was asked to bring back an ordinance limited to A‑frames that addresses: minimum clear sidewalk widths, ADA compliance, safe anchoring/weighting to prevent tip‑over, and basic aesthetic/design guidance so signs align with downtown character. - Councilmember Becerra asked staff to consider narrow sidewalks and potential impacts on accessibility; staff and the city attorney flagged possible liability if signage blocks pedestrian travel. - Councilmember Fan urged design guidelines to avoid low‑quality plastic signage in downtown investment areas. - Several councilmembers suggested temporarily pausing citations for A‑frame violations in areas under study until new rules are adopted.

Next steps: Staff agreed to return with a draft ordinance and design standards on the city council work program; several members asked staff to include public‑works, planning, risk management and police in drafting to ensure safe, ADA‑compliant provisions.

Ending: Council supported a narrow, pragmatic approach — allowing A‑frames in specified commercial zones with clear ADA and design rules — rather than reopening the entire sign code at this time.