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Council approves $60,900 monument sign with electric message center for Parking Lot 7; attorney warns against selling ad space
Summary
Council approved a $60,900 SignsNow proposal for a monument sign with an electric message center at Municipal Parking Lot 7. Members asked about message content, brightness, driver distraction, and whether advertising could be sold; the city attorney warned First Amendment issues make selling advertising legally fraught.
The committee approved a $60,900 proposal from SignsNow to supply a monument sign with an electric message center for Municipal Parking Lot Number 7 on State Street. Director Keck said the sign will include an electronic message center capable of pictures, logos and slideshow messaging; staff can set duration and remotely update content. Council asked where the sign will face and what content would be appropriate; Keck said it could display city information and event announcements.
Aldermen asked whether the message center could be used to generate revenue by selling advertising. The city attorney advised against allowing commercial advertising on a municipally controlled sign because it would create First Amendment content‑control obligations: once one group is allowed, the city could be required to allow other groups. Council asked for proofs and visual proofs of the sign design next week and discussed who should have control over messaging; Keck indicated multiple city users could be authorized.
