Witness the city's sign ordinance. Adopted by the City Council in 1990, the sign ordinance replaced the former county sign ordinance with a more restrictive code. Goodness, how time flies. Here it is, almost a decade later, and for much of that ensuing time, the city's sign ordinance has been a non-issue. But the hour of enforcement is approaching, and it understandably has many business owners worried.
Signs can be expensive.
That was a wise move, given the fact that it's estimated that 65 to 75 percent of pre-1990 signs will have to be replaced. Time is almost up. Recognizing that local businesses would develop an increasing sense of urgency about the issue as the amortization period wound down, the city in 1996 appointed a task force to advise the city about the transition and to ensure that businesses' questions and concerns about the ordinance are addressed and taken into account. That has resulted in a series of recommended revisions to the sign ordinance that are scheduled tonight to be considered by the city Planning Commission. The city is in something of an awkward position.