City Manager's Annual Report Annual Report 2018 | A Year In Review | Page 42

C We value accountability and believe transparency and fiscal responsibility are essential for citizen confidence in our local government. City Updates Sign Ordinances The City recently amended its regulations of temporary signage in order to be compliant with the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, AZ. The 2015 ruling altered the legal landscape for temporary sign regulations by finding that content-based regulation was subject to strict scrutiny. Because the decision had competing concurring opinions, local governments throughout the United States have been reviewing and amending their temporary sign code regulations. The City conducted a thorough analysis of its temporary sign regulations, including a review of subsequent federal case decisions interpreting Reed, conducted stakeholder meetings and a review of guidance from local government groups. The pertinent revisions included amending the sign code to recognize the importance of signs for commercial and non-commercial speech while ensuring public safety and aesthetics, removed different regulations for garage sale signs and estate sale signs, removed the additional regulations imposed on real estate signs, and provided regulations that uniformly apply to all temporary signage. The amendments were approved by the City Council on September 10, 2018. Temporary signs will now be regulated on a content-neutral basis and the regulations are based upon a maximum aggregate square footage, height, and setbacks which will based on the property’s zoning and its size. THANK YOU CITY VOLUNTEERS! In FY 2017/2018 43,318 Volunteer Hours Photo: Fall Fun Fest 2018 Generated $1,051,652 in City Savings!