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Joshua City Council tables extension of sign ordinance into ETJ pending legislative outcome
Summary
Council discussed extending the city sign ordinance into the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) but voted to table the item until the June meeting to await the outcome of pending state legislation affecting municipal ETJ authority.
The Joshua City Council discussed whether to extend the city—uilding-code sign ordinance (Article 3.06, Chapter 3) to the city—xtraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and decided to table the item until the June council meeting to await the legislature ction on ETJ authority.
City staff presented the draft ordinance language and asked for direction on whether the council wanted the city—ode to apply beyond municipal limits into the half-mile ETJ. Staff noted that many Texas cities currently apply sign regulations in their ETJs and that the local government code permits cities to extend regulatory authority to ETJ, but the legislature was actively considering bills that could limit or eliminate municipal authority in ETJ. The city attorney and staff recommended postponing a final decision until the end of the legislative session so the council could see whether changes to state law would affect local authority.
Councilmembers expressed mixed views. One councilmember said extending sign rules could prevent "egregious" or offensive signage near city boundaries and help enforce size and placement limits; others said the legislature might remove municipal ETJ authority and preferred to wait. The mayor said the council could either remove or retain ETJ language later with a simple ordinance amendment and noted the legislative session would conclude in about two months. After discussion, Councilmember Shelley moved and Councilmember Dakota seconded a motion to table the item until the June meeting; the motion carried.
Why it matters: Extending sign regulations into the ETJ would expand the city's regulatory reach to properties just outside city limits; however, pending state legislation on ETJ authority could change the city's legal power to regulate signage. Waiting for legislative clarity will allow the council to adopt language consistent with any new state limits.
Next steps: Staff will leave the item on the June agenda for final action and will monitor state legislation (bills referenced by staff) and related court challenges; the council asked staff to return with a final proposed ordinance informed by the legislative outcome.
Ending: The item was tabled; councilmembers will revisit the draft sign ordinance extension in June after the legislative session has advanced.
