Amador County – The Jackson City Council on Monday discussed reaching out to the Jackson business community as the council considers sign ordinance amendments.

The council directed staff on Nov. 14 to “develop an outreach program to the business community to obtain more input from these stakeholders,” the “business owners using signs” relative to “current and proposed sign regulations.” City Manager Mike Daly said in a report to the council that at the previous meeting, there were concerns that “the proposed regulations were not business-friendly and that they could create a competitive disadvantage for businesses within city limits.”

City Planner Susan Peters said prior to 2002, the city’s sign ordinance was weak. Daly said the last major stand-alone update to sign regulations occurred in 2002. Banner regulations were adopted in 2008 and further restrictions added to Development Code in 2009, including “the more restrictive use of internally lit cabinet signs.”

Daly said “as modifications to the sign ordinance were adopted, staff found it difficult to implement and enforce the new regulations. Staff reductions and the economic downturn for local businesses further complicated enforcement.”

Peters said non-enforcement included not following a 5-year amortization, which would require non-conforming signs to be fixed to meet city law within 5 years. She said regulations cover wall signs, pole signs, and temporary political signs, among others.

Staff has gotten complaints about vehicle-mounted signs, she said, and wanted to clarify issues in a new draft ordinance, which had a public hearing Nov. 14. Daly said minimal attendance worried the Council.

Peters said staff and the Jackson Planning Commission created an informational brochure that is “a voluntary sign clutter reduction program.” She said it was up to the council if they wanted to continue drafting new regulations.

Councilman Wayne Garibaldi said he did not think sending the brochure “is going to garner the response that we would like to see.” He said they should let people know the city is contemplating a draft ordinance that would affect a lot of business signs considered non-conforming.

Councilman Keith Sweet said he hoped the brochure would tell what signs were illegal in existing code, and another letter would focus on potential enforcement and set specific times and dates for afternoon and evening meetings, to increase attendance in the public hearing.

Councilwoman Marilyn Lewis said she would like to see visuals, and wondered about people who will say “I’ve had this sign for 25 years.”

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