At the first reading of Ordinance 419-2025, the Rio Dell City Council considered an amendment to the city's sign regulations that would rezone about 3,000 square feet from public facility to industrial-commercial with a qualified combining zone to allow limited freeway-oriented billboards.

Community development staff described three main elements: (1) a definition of "community oriented billboards" limited to city-sponsored events, local businesses and public-service messages; (2) a qualified combining zone that would restrict uses on the rezoned parcel mostly to billboards; and (3) performance standards for LED and non-LED signage, including automatic brightness control limiting nighttime brightness to 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, a minimum display time of 10 seconds and a maximum transition time of two seconds.

The proposed changes would allow up to three billboards in designated areas, with spacing and height limits tied to Caltrans rules; staff noted Caltrans approval is required for freeway-oriented signs. Planning commission input was noted (at least one commissioner questioned limiting the number of billboards in the business park).

Councilmembers expressed support for a single community-oriented sign at the West-side wastewater site approaching the city but reservations about adding additional commercial billboards there. Staff suggested continuing the item to the council's first meeting in January to complete the second reading and vote; that continuation motion passed 5-0.

What happens next: Staff will return with the ordinance for a second reading and final vote at the Jan. 6, 2026 council meeting; the council indicated it may narrow the proposal to a single community-oriented billboard on the West side.