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1. Is the City going to allow lots of flashing signs?

The City currently has a strict sign code, although it does take several staff in several different departments to keep up with enforcement. The new code proposed to allow electronic changing message devices to change their message once every 30 seconds.  (LED signs that can change writing or show pictures).  Currently the code only allows one change per 24 hours.  Staff has heard many complaints from businesses that own these signs that the 24 hour limit was too restrictive.  Staff has merely suggested 30 seconds, as it was longer than what is allowed in Jacksonville, but more often than what can be done now.  This is an option for City Council, and from the input they got at their first meeting on the new code, it will likely change to a much longer period of time, or may not change at all.  Additionally, flashing signs are already illegal, and the City uses code enforcement to prohibit flashing signs.

2. What other surprises are in the sign code?

Staff made very few changes to the sign code, as it is a very good part of the code already, and was a recently written addition to the code. Staff has added definitions and clarified language, but made no other substantial changes, other than now requiring old pole signs to come down within the next 5 years and to allow commercial businesses to have A Frame signs during hours of operation.  Pole signs were outlawed almost 10 years ago, but a lot of them still exist. This would require them to be removed by 2030.