Moses Lake may add sign regulations

MOSES LAKE - A proposed Moses Lake ordinance affects the size of political signs and the materials used to create permanent signs.

The Moses Lake City Council passed a change in the city's sign ordinance on the first reading during a recent city council meeting. The city requires a second passage before it takes effect.

The proposal adds a requirement that permanent signs made from temporary materials need to be removed within 90 days.

Moses Lake City Code defines temporary materials as vinyl, cardboard, card stock, corrugated plastic and fabric.

Community Development Director Gilbert Alvarado said the issue of people using vinyl signs permanently arose during the council's retreat.

"I provided a visual of the barrage of (signs) that we have. There has been concern from the business community, both for and against. There also has been some concern from the council. You directed staff to move forward with an amendment," he said.

Mayor Jon Lane asked if someone could simply replace the sign after 90 days.

Alvarado said the signs couldn't be replaced, pointing out the proposal doesn't allow people to use temporary materials in permanent signs.

"If this was passed today, we're giving notice to those that exist that we're giving 90 days to remove them," he said.

He explained the change doesn't affect temporary signs, such as sales signs. It only affects people using temporary materials for their permanent signs.

Councilmember Dick Deane asked how the proposal affects fabric signs in frames.

"I put one of these up and it has an ad for what I'm doing and I'm selling a product, and I put a board with trim around it, can it become permanent?" he asked.

Alvarado said they wouldn't be permitted.  

The proposal also limits political signs to 32 square feet per sign and a maximum sign height of eight feet. City Manager Joe Gavinski wrote the change deals with signs hanging from fire trucks and placed on semi-tractor trailers.

"Prior to this amendment, we had no maximum height and that's been in existence for some time," Alvarado said. "Also, there was no maximum square footage ... If you remember we had some that took entire cargo container sides."

Councilmember Karen Liebrecht asked if the provisions for political signs affects private property as well.

"So, say I have a business downtown with an asphalt parking lot, I can't have anything larger than (32 square feet?)" she asked.

Alvarado said the code affects private property.

Finally, the change allows the Community Development Department to issue permits for sandwich board signs without taking the proposals to the city council.

Liebrecht said she had a problem with how the regulations were grouped together. She didn't have any issues with the sandwich board portion, but she raised concerns about other portions of the regulations.

"What I do have a problem with is government telling people what they can do on their own private property," she said. "That disturbs me. I think if a private person wants to, no matter how annoying it is, stick a large sign up on a fire engine or put one on a truck, I think they have the right to do that."

City Attorney Michael Wyman said the city can regulate what happens on private property, but whether it should can be debated.

"The way I look at it is these regulations are meant to protect the public interests," he said. "It's meant to protect those who don't want to see it."

Lane added a 32-square-foot sign should be large enough to get a message across and he finds the large signs obnoxious.

Councilmember Richard Pearce said he wants to protect property rights, but he also wants to protect the rights of the neighbors.

"When they have to look at a cargo container tilted up on there, on a trailer that is about to tip over in the wind, I think we have some responsibility to those people," he said.

Lane, Pearce, Deane and Councilmember Brent Reese approved the ordinance. Liebrecht and Councilmember David Curnel opposed it.