Staff proposes limited allowance for downtown sandwich‑board signs; commissioners raise ADA and enforcement concerns

City planning staff presented a proposal to permit sandwich‑board signs in the Downtown Overlay District and a 300‑foot buffer around it, subject to placement and safety restrictions and limits on size. Ivan Baragon (staff) said the current code prohibits private sign placement in the right‑of‑way (citing PMC 17.15.0.04) and staff’s intent is to create a regulated allowance that balances downtown business flexibility with pedestrian safety.

Baragon summarized the draft: temporary signs would be allowed in the area between building frontage and the curb (or in unimproved areas where sidewalks do not exist) with dimensional limits and exclusions for travel lanes, medians and roundabouts. He noted the proposal’s goal is to provide clear code guidance, removal procedures for violations, and different distance considerations near signalized intersections versus stop‑controlled intersections. Staff recommended formal public hearing consideration in January (planning commission public hearing proposed for Jan. 15, 2026).

Commissioners focused on accessibility and enforcement: one commissioner asked who would enforce the rules and whether enforcement would be complaint‑driven; Baragon said code enforcement would likely handle complaints given limited staff capacity. Commissioners also asked about the risk of visual clutter where multi‑tenant buildings could effectively place several signs; staff said the draft is intended to give “one building one sign” to reduce clutter but is open to input.

Staff acknowledged sandwich boards are already being used downtown despite being technically prohibited; the proposal seeks to create a safer, enforceable framework rather than leave the situation unregulated. Planning staff will return with a public‑hearing draft in January for further consideration.