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Commissioners say OMV master-plan signage was adopted without Planning Commission input
Summary
Commissioners raised objections after staff told the City Council adopted an off‑highway motor‑vehicle master plan and a signage plan tied to state law; staff said the council’s action implemented state requirements and the city is now securing bids for sign procurement.
Commissioners at the Feb. 4 Needles City Planning Commission meeting said they were not given an opportunity to review or advise on the off‑highway motor‑vehicle (OMV) master plan and its related signage plan before the City Council approved it.
Commissioner Drestler said the matter “totally bypassed us” and that the Planning Commission ordinarily reviews land‑use and route designations. Drestler asked why the commission was excluded from the process for designating OMV routes and signage.
City Manager Martinez replied that the master plan was adopted to implement a state law and that no city ordinance was required to put the signage plan into place. Martinez described the signage work as primarily a public‑works and policy decision for council and said staff had brought a signage plan to council; the city is now gathering quotes and will either put the work out to bid or purchase the signs directly. During discussion staff and commissioners cited different sign‑count estimates (staff first said about 160 signs; another mention put the initial scope near 263 signs).
Why it matters: commissioners said designating routes and advising on signage are central planning functions that can affect traffic patterns, property rights and local recreation access. One commissioner read provisions from the city charter during the meeting to underscore the commission’s advisory and planning authority.
Staff response and next steps: Martinez said staff will review how the master plan and signage interact with planning authority and said staff could bring similar items to the commission in the future. No formal policy change or vote by the Planning Commission on the OMV master plan occurred at the workshop.
The city did not provide a formal ordinance number or council resolution in the discussion; staff characterized the action as a policy implementation tied to state requirements and said procurement for signs is underway.
