Amador County – The City Council and Planning Commission looked through wants and needs for a new city sign ordinance Wednesday in Ione. City Planner Christopher Jordan and City Manager Kim Kerr discussed potential ordinance verbiage with the full city council and three of five commissioners, gathering consensus. They discussed a uniform signage program for commercial centers of 3 or more tenants, which “establishes unique design and development standards to create a unified feel and allow flexibility in design while implementing the regulations.” Commissioner Mike McDermed asked if uniformity was retroactive to existing businesses. Jordan said there was “nothing in here that would apply this retroactively,” but it could be done in conditions of approval, or an ordinance amendment. Jordan asked for a policy decision on whether the council and commissioners wanted to require a sign permit for temporary signs, which included A-frame placards and banners. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked how it would be enforced, and said the “Ione Pharmacy puts one out every day.” She wondered if an annual permit would be needed. Jordan said paperwork filed with the city could tell staff when a banner goes up and when it is supposed to come down. Councilman Jim Ulm said he thought it was over-regulation. Commissioner Joe Wylie agreed, saying “we don’t have to go from Cow Town to La Jolla in one jump.” Jordan said he saw a consensus that they did not want to require permits for temporary signs. Bonham asked about an “old timey sign with a mustache that wiggles.” She also asked about two old 8-foot tall, sexy girls – statues that stood above the theater in the 1960s – a cowgirl and a senorita. She said people talked about finding the old statues and returning them to downtown. Jordan said a moving mustache sign was against the ordinance, “but this group can decide what policy it wants.” As far as the sexy statues, without printing or reference to a business, if attached to the building, they would be considered part of the building and would be allowed. The commission will consider these and other final rough drafts of the ordinance at a later meeting. Story by Jim Reece
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Amador County – The City Council and Planning Commission looked through wants and needs for a new city sign ordinance Wednesday in Ione. City Planner Christopher Jordan and City Manager Kim Kerr discussed potential ordinance verbiage with the full city council and three of five commissioners, gathering consensus. They discussed a uniform signage program for commercial centers of 3 or more tenants, which “establishes unique design and development standards to create a unified feel and allow flexibility in design while implementing the regulations.” Commissioner Mike McDermed asked if uniformity was retroactive to existing businesses. Jordan said there was “nothing in here that would apply this retroactively,” but it could be done in conditions of approval, or an ordinance amendment. Jordan asked for a policy decision on whether the council and commissioners wanted to require a sign permit for temporary signs, which included A-frame placards and banners. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham asked how it would be enforced, and said the “Ione Pharmacy puts one out every day.” She wondered if an annual permit would be needed. Jordan said paperwork filed with the city could tell staff when a banner goes up and when it is supposed to come down. Councilman Jim Ulm said he thought it was over-regulation. Commissioner Joe Wylie agreed, saying “we don’t have to go from Cow Town to La Jolla in one jump.” Jordan said he saw a consensus that they did not want to require permits for temporary signs. Bonham asked about an “old timey sign with a mustache that wiggles.” She also asked about two old 8-foot tall, sexy girls – statues that stood above the theater in the 1960s – a cowgirl and a senorita. She said people talked about finding the old statues and returning them to downtown. Jordan said a moving mustache sign was against the ordinance, “but this group can decide what policy it wants.” As far as the sexy statues, without printing or reference to a business, if attached to the building, they would be considered part of the building and would be allowed. The commission will consider these and other final rough drafts of the ordinance at a later meeting. Story by Jim Reece
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