Amador County – Sutter Creek City Council on Monday made sign code revision their Planning Commission’s top priority through the fiscal year’s end.

City Manager Sean Rabe said the city does not have the money to put toward $11,000 to $15,000 in estimated costs to update its sign code.

Rabe said Planning Commission meetings have been canceled lately due to a lack of business, but regular scheduling would allow Commissioners to work on sign code. Vice Mayor Sandy Anderson asked about a joint Council/Commission meeting, and Councilman Gary Wooten said it was discussed in the past, but never scheduled.

Councilman Tim Murphy said work such as “view-sheds,” and Sphere of Influence Zoning overlay of the city, in relation to draft county General Plan, were some issues he thought should be addressed. He said the proposed action was to “formally add this as a project for the Planning Commission,” and the council approved that on a 4-0 vote.

Mayor Linda Rianda asked if the Commission could finish the sign code update by the end of the fiscal year. Commissioner Mike Kirkley said they could, but would need in-house staff support, not consultants.

Commissioner Robin Peters said “the sign ordinance is a disaster now, and needs a lot of work” to clean it up, clarify it make it less ambiguous, and “whip it into shape.” He said “it has proven to be a slightly larger task than we originally anticipated,” but he thought they could finish in 6 months, if they have regularly scheduled meetings. Peters said they have the framework regulation context in place and need to build around it.

Anderson asked if part of the Commission’s task would be to decide who enforces the sign ordinance. Rabe said city staff could do more to make businesses aware of sign permit applications, when selling business licenses, and then follow up on applications. Kirkley said enforcement was not up to the Commission.

Rabe said “it is not being enforced the way it needs to be enforced” and “frankly, is not being enforced.” He said permits are given after signs are hung, and approved by staff if the signs are obviously in compliance. It is done so sign applications can be scheduled for a Planning Commission meeting. Kirkley said public meetings should not address sign permits, and it should be a city administrative duty.

Regarding enforcement, Peters said former Police Chief Rob Duke “had no intention of sending officers to businesses” regarding sign code. Peters suggested using a current employee “who spends a lot of time behind a windshield,” following the example of Jackson, where public works & building inspector Larry White handles enforcement.

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