City’s sign law goes unheeded

All over Petaluma, especially in front of quaint downtown antique shops, bustling diners and dim dive bars, A-frame signs announce the specials of the day or upcoming events.|

All over Petaluma, especially in front of quaint downtown antique shops, bustling diners and dim dive bars, A-frame signs announce the specials of the day or upcoming events. They harken back to another era before television and Internet advertising. But they are also illegal in Petaluma.

Businesses that use these signs are in violation of current ordinances. In some cases, they obstruct pedestrian traffic to the point that they might be violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. The frequency of the violations and the fact that the city’s lone code enforcement officer is inundated with other code violations such as abandoned vehicles, or building code requirements has forced the city to take another look at the regulations governing signs in Petaluma.

“The code has not been thoroughly updated in many years,” Heather Hines, the city planning manager, told the City Council last month. “It contains provisions that are out of date … and provisions that do not reflect best practices in sign code regulation and community planning.”

All types of signs – political and campaign posters, floating balloons, business signs – are being reviewed and debated in a process that will take place over the next two years. Petaluma Downtown Association executive director Marie McCusker hopes that the city will consider “a whole approach” to the questions of sign regulation.

The signs “really benefit businesses,” she said. “There needs to be moderation. I support guidelines and a permit process instead of an out right ban.”

The city is looking at different forms of signage for businesses, including examples from cities like Healdsburg. Hines also suggested that specific signage regulations for different geographical areas, such as the downtown district, might be a possibility.

City Council members said they are considering whether some signs are appropriate to the aesthetics of Petaluma, and whether they raise public safety concerns.

“I like what they do in Healdsburg,” said Councilwoman Kathleen Miller. “I worry about the A-frame signs due to their blocking access. It potentially exposes the city to liability.”

Councilman Mike Healy said he was sympathetic to allowing businesses to use A-frame signs directly in front of their shops or storefronts, but objected when signs were placed farther from a business. Councilman Gabe Kearney said he wanted to make sure that any new ordinance allowed for special signage, such as those displayed at the holidays.

“When I was a boy growing up here, I enjoyed seeing the signs for the holidays,” he said. “I don’t want to do anything that detracts from that.”

On the issue of political signs, council members agreed that a shorter time span for placing political signs is preferable. Currently, candidates and campaigns are allowed to place signs for political campaigns 90 days prior to an election, and must take the signs down within 15 days after the election.

Mayor David Glass said the current ordinances governing signs in the city were “as clear as mud.”

(Contact E. A. Barrera at ernesto.barrera@arguscourier.com)

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