Arden Hills Council seeks clearer, easier‑to‑enforce rules for election signs

Community Development Director Jake Reilly reviewed permissible regulation for noncommercial (election) signs — time, place and manner — and offered sample approaches used by neighboring cities. Councilmembers raised enforcement and clarity concerns: Councilmember Emily Rousseau said staff time responding to small measurement complaints should be limited, while Councilmember Kurt Weber suggested a proportional rule: "If it is a one foot sign, it's one foot back. If there is a two foot sign it's two feet back. If you have a five foot sign, it's five feet back."

Council members favored an educational, complaint‑based enforcement approach that first notifies property owners and candidates, with impoundment reserved for repeated or safety‑related violations. City Administrator Jessica Jagoe said staff will draft clear measurement language and enforcement options and return the item to Council at the first meeting in July.