Commission debates simpler, bilingual public hearing signs and removal requirements

The Plan Commission discussed revisions to the city’s public hearing sign practice, with commissioners and residents advocating for larger, easier‑to‑read signage, Spanish language inclusion and a requirement that petitioners remove signs after hearings.

Staff presented the current practice: a six‑square‑foot sign, a minimum of three feet off the ground, with the date, time, case number, description and a contact phone number. Commissioners and members of the public said the dense text is often unreadable to drivers and recommended reducing on‑sign text to an attention line (for example, "Public Hearing"), date/time, and a phone number or city website to direct people to details. Several speakers asked that the city require petitioners to remove signs after the hearing because outdated signs left on private property confuse residents.

Resident Tracy Brown said, "I like the idea of it being in both languages," urging bilingual notices that include Spanish so more community members can access hearing information. Commissioners favored a larger sign with less text, suggested bilingual options for larger projects and directed staff to prepare a mock‑up of a revised sign and to explore a code amendment to require sign removal.

Staff described a separate effort to place more hearing information on a public notice portal on the city's website and to use that portal for broader outreach via social media.