§ 26-103. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide uniform sign standards and regulations in order to ensure public safety, efficient communication and promote a positive city image reflecting order, harmony, and pride, thereby strengthening the economic stability of the city's business, cultural, historical, and residential areas as follows:

(1)

Public safety. To promote the safety of persons and property by ensuring that signs do not:

a.

Create a hazard due to collapse, fire, decay, or abandonment;

b.

Obstruct firefighting or police surveillance; or

c.

Create traffic hazards by confusing, distracting, or obstructing the view of pedestrians or vehicles.

(2)

Efficient communications. To promote the efficient transfer of information in sign messages by ensuring:

a.

Those signs which provide public safety messages and information are given priority;

b.

Businesses and services may identify themselves;

c.

Customers and other persons may locate businesses or services;

d.

No person or group is arbitrarily denied the use of sight lines from public rights-of-way for communication purposes;

e.

Persons exposed to signs are not overwhelmed by the number of messages presented and are able to exercise freedom of choice to observe or ignore such messages according to the observer's purpose; and

f.

The right of free speech exercised through the reasonable use of signs is preserved.

(3)

Landscape quality and preservation. To protect the public welfare and enhance the appearance and economic value of the landscape by ensuring that signs:

a.

Do not interfere with scenic views;

b.

Do not create a nuisance to persons using public rights-of-way;

c.

Do not create a nuisance to occupants of adjacent and contiguous property by their brightness, size, height, or movement;

d.

Are not detrimental to land or property values;

e.

Do not contribute to visual blight or clutter; and

f.

Are architecturally compatible and harmonious with the structure to which they pertain and to neighboring structures.

(Ord. No. 051117-01, § 1(Exh. A), 5-11-2017)