Amador County – With a caution to try to avert “sign wars,” the Amador County Board of Supervisors discussed changes to the county sign ordinance that would allow temporary directional signs to push traffic toward businesses.

Amador County Planner Cara Augustin after the discussion Tuesday said she will “try to draft something that we can really pick apart at the Land Use Committee level.”

Supervisor Ted Novelli suggested they work with the various county departments on fees, and maybe allow a payment term, such as 90 days. He said the last time he bought a sign, it cost $150.

Augustin recommended a placard type sign with up to five spots for the names of businesses. It was based on a request by Strings Italian Restaurant to direct traffic from Highway 49 to Highway 88. It also asked for special permission due to economic hard times. She recommended giving a limit of two signs to each business at any location, and having one sign per corner, with up to five names.

Supervisor Richard Forster said he would like to avoid “directional sign wars” between the highway intersections. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said he is “very pro-business” but one of the biggest things about good business is location. He said “maybe it was a poor business location decision in the first place” that led to the need to try to direct traffic there.

Forster said the small “mom & pop” stores and restaurants “can’t afford to buy the big billboards that McDonald’s” and the Jackson Rancheria Casino can afford, so the big signs get bigger traffic. He said the Amador Vintners Association is looking to do the same thing, and is spending about $27,000 on directional signs.

Supervisor Brian Oneto said “if it is successful, they will be taking business from other areas of the county.”

Deputy County Counsel Greg Gillott said if the signs go up in county rights-of-way, it would need an encroachment permit as well. Augustin said Caltrans also has a fee. She recommended a sunset clause of 2 years for Supervisors to come back to the code and “see if the economic decline is still here.”

Novelli was a little concerned about all of the fees. Augustin said it could be worked out by the Land Use Committee, which “wanted it to be affordable,” and less than $100.” Forster said Development Director Aaron Brusatori thought it should be $150. Augustin said planning related work could have fees of $66.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.