Annapolis committee postpones vote on food‑truck signage rules after changes approved

Alderman Savage introduced Ordinance 03124, aimed at applying the city—s brick‑and‑mortar sign standards to mobile food vendors, and the Environmental Matters Committee on Dec. 12 approved an amendment and then postponed the measure for further drafting.

The ordinance sponsor, Alderman Savage, told the committee the proposal arose from noticing a food truck displaying a constantly blinking neon sign and discovering that city sign rules that govern fixed businesses do not currently apply to vehicles. "Our code for brick and mortar stores does not apply. We actually have no ... signage code that applies to food trucks because they're on wheels," Savage said, describing the genesis of the legislation.

Why it matters: Committee members said they share the sponsor—s concern about flashing or animated signs that could add visual clutter or distract drivers, but they also heard food‑truck operators and vendors who rely on sandwich‑board and menu signs. The committee approved a motion to remove the subsection that would have specifically banned "changeable electronic/variable message" signs and kept language prohibiting flashing or animated signs.

Committee action and direction: The committee voted to adopt a committee amendment to strike the C1 language referring to changeable electronic variable message signs and then voted to postpone action on the ordinance until the next meeting so staff and the law office can redraft language. Members asked staff to:

- Draft revised ordinance language that makes clear what types of signs are prohibited (for example, explicitly banning flashing or animated signs) while allowing menu boards and removable sandwich boards when they do not obstruct sidewalks or site circulation. - Provide a staffing‑impact statement to accompany the ordinance (committee members noted the staff report embedded some fiscal comments but did not include the required separate staffing impact statement). - Coordinate between the Department, the Office of Law, and the sponsor before the item returns to committee.

Procedural notes: Committee members also discussed where sign rules should be codified. Several members noted signage rules are split across city code (Title 7 for licensing, Title 21 for zoning/signs, and Title 17 reference points) and questioned whether a future consolidation would be clearer for applicants.

Temporary/removable signage and quantity: Staff and members debated limiting non‑truck signage (for example, A‑frame or sandwich boards). The committee directed staff to draft language that would require such removable signs be immediately adjacent to the food truck, removed when the truck is not operating, not placed on public sidewalks, and not impede pedestrian or vehicular circulation. Members also discussed a cap on the number of removable signs (the committee requested staff propose language, e.g., limiting signs to one or two in close proximity to the truck).

Vote outcomes: The committee approved the committee amendment to strike the changeable‑electronic provision and later voted to postpone Ordinance 03124 until the next meeting so staff can prepare revised language and a staffing impact statement. (The transcript records voice votes of "aye," but individual vote tallies or names were not recorded on the record.)

What happens next: Staff and the Office of Law will rework the amendment language (including clearer definitions for "removable" or "temporary" signs that do not conflict with Title 21 zoning terms) and provide a staffing impact statement. The ordinance will return to the Environmental Matters Committee at a future meeting for further consideration.

Ending: The committee—s action leaves the central policy aims intact — prohibit flashing/animated signs on mobile food vendors while allowing reasonable, removable menu or sandwich‑board signage — but the city will return with clarified, enforceable language and the requested staffing analysis before final action.