Council holds first reading of sign ordinance to allow community-oriented billboard; second reading set for Jan. 6
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Summary
The council held the first reading of Ordinance 419-2025 to add a qualified combining zone and allow a community-oriented freeway billboard; council indicated preference for a single community sign on the west approach, asked staff for changes, and continued the second reading to Jan. 6, 2026.
The Rio Veil City Council held a first reading of Ordinance 419-2025, which would amend the city's sign regulations to create a qualified combining zone that allows freeway-oriented billboards (including one community-oriented billboard) on a designated parcel near Highway 101.
Community Development Director Kevin Caldwell said the ordinance would redesignate approximately 3,000 square feet from public facility to industrial commercial with a qualified combining zone, limiting future uses on that parcel primarily to billboards. “Community oriented billboards ... restrict advertising display to promoting city sponsored events, local businesses, public services, or general information regarding the city of Riedell and its surrounding community,” Caldwell said.
Staff described performance and spacing standards: under current regulations East Side billboards in the Humboldt Bridal Business Park are limited to 480 square feet (12 by 40) and must be spaced under existing rules; the revised proposal would permit a third billboard spaced about 1,000 feet from existing signs and would set LED performance standards (automatic brightness control to limit nighttime brightness to 0.3 foot-candles above ambient, a minimum display of 10 seconds and maximum transition time of 2 seconds). For West Side freeway-oriented signs staff proposed a maximum 25-foot height and a 200-square-foot face for community-oriented signs at selected locations; Caltrans approval would also be required for any freeway-oriented signage.
Several council members said they support a single community-oriented sign on the west approach but oppose additional commercial billboards that would change the city's scenic entrance. “I'm good with the community sign, but I am adamantly against any other sign on the West Side,” one council member said.
The council did not take final action and voted 5-0 to continue the second reading and any approval to the council's first meeting on Jan. 6, 2026, directing staff to return with any recommended modifications.
