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Planning & Zoning Board <br />February 8, 2023 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />APPROVED MINUTES <br />A. Public Hearing: Sign Ordinance Amendment <br /> <br />Ms. Kristin Nierengarten with Rupp, Anderson, Squires, Waldspurger & Mace, presented <br />the staff report. <br /> <br />City Code Chapter 1010: Signs regulates signs. In 2014, the City amended the sign <br />ordinance. Staff is proposing another amendment to the ordinance to reflect changes that <br />have transpired from a federal court case. <br /> <br />Mr. Perry Laden asked at what point can the City regulate when a sign is obscene, violent <br />or pornographic in nature. Ms. Nierengarten stated the bar is high to enforce that issue. <br />She stated it has to be truly egregious in nature. Mr. Laden stated the City should have <br />some language in the ordinance to address it. Ms. Nierengarten stated it was possible to <br />add language to cover prohibited signs. <br /> <br />Mr. Nathan Vojtech questioned if business owners have to remove signs when a business <br />closes? Ms. Nierengarten stated the City could send out letters for an ordinance violation <br />or the City could do it if shown to be a safety risk. <br /> <br />Mr. Vojtech asked if the City had any definition of light pollution. Mr. Michael <br />Grochala, Community Development Director, indicated lighting is covered in the zoning <br />ordinance. <br /> <br />Mr. Vojtech asked if there was anything in the ordinance preventing the recognition of a <br />private individual on a sign. Ms. Nierengarten stated there was not and concluded that we <br />cannot regulate it within the sign ordinance. She did state the individual would have <br />other resources available to them if this were to occur. <br /> <br />Mr. Vojtech understood that a sign needed to be removed 10 days after the election. Ms. <br />Nierengarten said you can have a sign in your yard any time of year and that it does not <br />matter what the sign says. She went on to say it also means you are permitted to have <br />more signs during the time allowed for the election process regardless of content or size. <br /> <br />Mr. Evenson did not think the City required a permit for sandwich boards. He thought <br />the Board had eliminated them and he concluded it should be eliminated. Ms. Larsen <br />stated it is required but the City does not receive many requests. Ms. Larsen said weather <br />it is required or not we will still have the same number of signs around the City. <br /> <br />Mr. Wipperfurth questioned if the City cannot regulate content, can anyone put up as <br />many signs as they want for any reason. Ms. Nierengarten confirmed they could and that <br />there are some enforcements that can be taken in these instances. For example, if they <br />are in the right of way, a setback or safety concern. Mr. Wipperfurth asked if flags are