City staff proposes sign-code rewrite tied to general plan and road types; council stresses maintenance and small-business flexibility

James, a city planning staffer, briefed the council on an ongoing rewrite of the city’s sign code, saying the current code is roughly 50 years old and sometimes confusing to users.

James told the study session the rewrite responds to changes in law and city growth and would organize signage rules by general‑plan category and roadway classification rather than by the historical zone districts alone. He cited the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court requirement that sign regulation be content neutral — restricting regulation to size, number, placement and duration — and noted recent Arizona Revised Statutes changes addressing sign walkers and election signage in rights of way.

The staff proposal would create sign‑intensity tiers that combine general‑plan character, adjacent roadway speed/classification (principal arterial, collector, local) and property type to determine allowable sign size and quantity. The approach is intended to allow larger signage along high‑speed arterials and tighter limits in downtown and neighborhood contexts, and to reduce the apparent inequity where adjacent parcels in different zone districts have very different signage allowances.

James walked through common sign types (pylon/billboard, monument, mounted and temporary/post/window signage) and highlighted areas for council direction: whether to allow banners under limited time frames, how to treat feather/feather‑style flags, and whether to permit electronic message centers or more 'stately' gateway billboards. He also said historic signs would remain treated as exceptions under the draft.

Council members broadly supported a corridor‑oriented approach but raised concerns about maintenance and fairness for small businesses. One councilor urged code language that requires signs to be kept in good condition; another suggested temporary allowances (two–three years) for new businesses to use banners or lower‑cost signage while they establish themselves, with maintenance standards and limits on duration.

Staff requested council feedback to guide the draft rewrite; council members asked staff to keep rules simple, consistent and business‑friendly while addressing clutter, safety and character along Florence Boulevard and other corridors. No formal vote was taken; staff will incorporate feedback in subsequent drafts and return for further study sessions or formal hearings as required.