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Council introduces ordinance to allow a single city communication sign on city property; details, controls remain to be set
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to add a city‑communication sign category permitting digital signage on city‑owned property for emergency alerts and municipal messaging while retaining the ban on private off‑site billboards. Staff said the plan would require conditional use permits and a property lease; one proposed site behind a Chevron near I‑10 was described. Council set a second reading for Aug. 11, 2026.
City planning staff presented a proposed amendment to the sign code on July 14 to create a regulated category for "city communication signs" on city‑owned or controlled property.
Associate Planner Gabriel explained the change would add a new section to Chapter 17.18, define city communication signs, and require planning commission review via a conditional use permit (CUP) for each proposed sign. The amendment would allow the city to pursue sponsorship or advertising partnerships under a property lease agreement while retaining municipal control over placement, design, and priority for emergency messaging.
Gabriel said the code would continue to prohibit private off‑site commercial billboards; the exemption applies only to qualifying signs on city property. Staff noted the project would allow a conditional use process to review size, lighting, design and compatibility; the planning commission would not regulate content of individual ads but the city manager would retain priority to display emergency messages.
During Q&A council members expressed concerns about community consensus, visual impacts and control of advertising content. Staff said the initial plan would permit one sign on city property — identified in the discussion as a city‑owned parcel behind the Chevron on the south side of I‑10 west of Mountain View — and that a future agreement will present financial details and likely be a public hearing item.
The council voted to introduce council bill O‑2026‑08 on first reading, waive full reading, and set the second reading for Aug. 11, 2026 (motion carried). Staff will return with a detailed project agreement and financing details.
