Sign ordinance tops Cape council agenda

At Monday's Cape Girardeau City Council meeting, there will be a first reading and public hearing for an amendment to the city code relating to what types of signs are legal in the city.

Signs prohibited under the new ordinance include most flashing signs, banners, signs on city rights of way, and sandwich boards worn by people to promote businesses.

All permanent signs that do not conform to the ordinance at the time of its passage will be grandfathered in.

City officials said the ordinance, if passed, will not mark a drastic change from current city code; the difference will be in a new tougher enforcement. "There are some things that were not allowed in the current law that we will only really start enforcing after the new sign ordinance begins," said Heather Brooks, assistant to the city manager. "We're going to work with people who have signs that are violations, though. We're going to give them advance warning and explain the new ordinance."

One Cape Girardeau resident who has long used signs for his business is already feeling the pinch.

"We were told we can't put signs up in our yard anymore; we're not trying to make a statement, it's just for advertising," said Andy Taylor.

Taylor, his wife and a friend have run a children's consignment sale twice yearly at the armory for several years. He uses a banner sign at his home and distributes yard signs to friends to advertise the event.

"I called in because I heard about the new sign ordinance. I just wanted to make sure that we weren't breaking any laws," said Taylor. The Division of Planning Services "said it's always been a law that you can't have signs in your front yard. I was pretty surprised because we've been doing it for years."

Becky Figliolo with Planning Services said having done it for years is not an excuse.

"That doesn't mean it's legal. He just probably hasn't had the right person call in and complain about it yet," she said. "Right now we don't allow any type of signage in our residential district without a special-use permit. We have to go with the ordinance we have right now."

One bone of contention relating to the proposed ordinance is the fact that political signs are not restricted. These signs are constitutionally protected forms of free speech, said city attorney Eric Cunningham. Therefore, the city will not officially enforce a deadline that these signs must be picked up after elections.

Skip Smallwood and other commissioners with the Planning and Zoning Commission were unhappy with the exemption, but concede that a challenge in court would be difficult.

Also on the Monday's agenda will be a resolution authorizing a change order of more than $50,000 in additional funds for the construction of Fire Station No. 3 at 1975 N. Sprigg St. The additional money is for storm water detention and miscellaneous building improvements.