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Council delays sign‑ordinance cleanup to allow more outreach with downtown merchants
Summary
Council continued a first reading of a cleanup to Chapter 21.52 (temporary, prohibited, and non‑conforming signs) to April 21 after business owners raised concerns about feather flags, A‑frame sandwich boards and off‑site signs; staff said the changes mainly update definitions and election‑sign rules.
The El Paso de Robles City Council voted April 7 to continue consideration of updates to the city’s sign ordinance to April 21 to give time for outreach with downtown business owners and civic groups.
Warren P., the Community Development Director, described the package as a “minor cleanup” chiefly intended to update definitions for temporary signs, flashing and moving signs, vehicle‑mounted signage and election‑sign rules to reflect recent case law and best practices. The update also clarifies maximum temporary sign sizes (now a simple square‑foot limit), and retains existing restrictions that prohibit signs in the public right of way and off‑site signs. Warren told the council the principal legal drivers were recent court guidance affecting noncommercial (protected) and commercial speech.
Business representatives said the draft was unclear on everyday enforcement and worried that commonly used downtown tools — feather flags and A‑frame sandwich signs placed in front of businesses — could be unintentionally banned or enforced inconsistently. Jeffrey Whisinger, representing the Paso Robles Main Street Association, asked for clearer language about time limits, placement in front of a business, and enforcement priorities.
Council members expressed interest in public education before the change and asked staff to meet with the Main Street Association, the Chamber and other downtown stakeholders. Council voted unanimously to continue the ordinance for additional outreach and return it for hearing on April 21.
Warren told the council that most sandwich‑board rules remain governed by the city’s street and highway code (which requires that A‑frame signs not block accessible walkways and be placed in front of the business being advertised), and that the proposed amendments focus mainly on the technical definitions and election‑sign timing.
