Agenda

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Item # 10.

Work Session and Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:	07/09/2019
Department:	Development Services

AGENDA CAPTION:

Consider Action to Approve an Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordnances Chapter 62 Section 62-247. - Political Signs by Adopting New Regulations for Political Signs in the Public Right-of-Way and on Town-Owned Property.

BACKGROUND:

At the Work Session on May 28, 2019, the City Council discussed the Town's current regulations and enforcement procedures related to political signage. At that time, Council directed Staff to explore changing the Town's political signage regulations to accomplish the following:

Prohibit political signs within the public right-of-way (ROW)
Formally prohibit political signs on Town-owned property, such as parks and Town facilities
Establish limitations on political signs near polling places

Based on Council's direction, Staff drafted changes to the Code of Ordinances Section 62-247. - Political Signs. The proposed changes would remove the existing regulations on signs in the ROW and replace them with new language expressly prohibiting signs in the ROW and on Town-owned property with two exceptions. The first would allow signs in the front and side yards of single-family residential properties as long as the signs are at least three feet away from the edge of the street, or in locations with sidewalks, three feet away from the edge of the sidewalk. The second would allow signs on Town-owned property that has been designated as a polling place, but impose restrictions on the location and timing of the placement of signs as well as the size and number of signs allowed.

At the Council Meeting on June 24, 2019, Staff presented draft regulations to the City Council and held a public hearing to solicit community feedback on the subject. Council directed staff to restrict the size of political signs at polling places to no more than 18 inches x 24 inches with a maximum area of 3 square feet. Additionally, Council asked Staff to clarify the the language in the draft ordinance to make it clear that signs would only be allowed on Town-owned property when the property is serving as an active polling place. Staff has included these changes into the attached ordinance for Council's consideration.

RECOMMENDATION:

Administration recommends approval.

Attachments
Ordinance - 62-247 Political Sign Regulation Amendment