HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.4 - 3320 Temporary Political Signs
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STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
DATE: September 1, 2020
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Linda Smith, City Manager
SUBJECT:
Temporary Political Signs
Prepared by: Kristie Wheeler, Assistant Community Development Director
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a report on the City’s current regulations pertaining to
temporary political signs and how they are enforced.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The City’s current enforcement practices for temporary political signs increases during
certain election periods; however, it does not result in a significant financial impact.
DESCRIPTION:
Temporary Political Sign Regulations
The Dublin Municipal Code (DMC) regulates Temporary Political Signs (Section
8.84.140.L). Temporary political signs are exempt from the City’s requirements for a
sign permit provided that they: 1) are removed within 10 calendar days following the
election; 2) are placed on private property; 3) are no more than 16 square feet per side
per individual sign and 80 square feet maximum aggregate area per lot; and 4) are not
placed within the public right-of-way or within 660 feet of and visible from the right-of-
way of Interstate 580 or Interstate 680. Temporary political signs that do not meet these
requirements are not allowed.
Enforcement
Political sign enforcement on private property is conducted on a proactive and complaint
basis. For signs that do not comply with the DMC, Staff will contact the candidate,
sponsor of a ballot measure, or property owner to have the signs removed or brought
into compliance. Compliance is almost always attained by a phone call or email.
Political signs displayed on public property require the majority of the political sign
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enforcement effort. DMC (Section 7.04.070) prohibits signs on public property and
provides the City with authority to remove and dispose of them. In addition, the person
responsible for posting the sign is liable for the cost incurred in its removal.
When responding to a complaint or upon seeing a political sign that is on public
property, Staff will remove and temporarily store the sign. If the candidate or ballot
measure is local, it has been Staff’s practice to attempt to contact the candidate or
sponsor of the ballot measure the first time such a violation occurs advising them that
the sign was removed and offering them an opportunity to recover it. No further contact
is made upon subsequent violations. An attempt to contact non-local candidates or
ballot measures is not made.
Political signs that have been recovered are kept for at least 60 days before being
disposed, unless retrieved by the candidate or sponsor. Signs are typically small and
easily removed. The Staff time, cost and effort to administer a cost recovery program
would far exceed the amount spent to remove the sign itself. Therefore, it has been
Staff’s practice to not charge the candidate or sponsor for the cost to remove signs.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
None.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.