Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors directed minor changes to a draft banner ordinance amendment Tuesday, asking for a larger exempt public service banner, and clarifying the number of temporary banners allowed during economic hard times.

Supervisors also made a differentiation between temporary economic relief signs for “stand alone” businesses and clustered businesses that share an off-road setback and signage space. The latter came from a suggestion from Feed Barn owner Susan Manning, who in an e-mail asked for stand-alone businesses to have flexibility on where to place the two economic relief banners. She sought to have the two banners “either on the building or if the building is set back, on a retaining wall, fence or structure where they may be professionally displayed.” She also suggested that grouped businesses, like malls, be allowed two economic relief banners, but one must be on the building, and the other could be attached to a permanent structure, such as a fence or retaining wall.

Supervisors on consensus directed staff to add the language. They also sought clarification on the number of banners allowed under the economic relief declaration. It allowed for only two economic relief banners, and not a third temporary banner that is allowed under the current code, for up to 90 aggregate days in a year. Planner Cara Augustin said some businesses interpreted the language to mean they could have three banners.

Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster, who missed the public hearing on the draft ordinance April 10, said it was “a little too restrictive,” and the Feed Barn and Jeff Holman Automotive have a lot of space that they are not able to use. Forster said they should leave it up to business. He also suggested allowing three or four banners.

The draft code allowed two, 60-square-foot economic relief banners to stay in place as long as the county’s “sales use tax revenue is less than $1.25 million.” Supervisor John Plasse said the intent of language was to “strike a balance, to help businesses and not have banners wars.”

Forster suggested basing it on square footage and allowing more, smaller signs totaling 60 square feet. Plasse said two 60-square-foot signs was a lot of space. Supervisor Brian Oneto agreed with Plasse, and said he did not want a banner war.

Forster thought there would be no banner war, and the businesses are just trying to utilize their space. He thought they would use banners tastefully because they do not want to drive away customers.

Oneto supported changing the exempted public service announcement banners from 25 to 60 square feet, which reached consensus and was directed by staff. The new draft ordinance amendment will be considered by the board at a future meeting.

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