Agoura Hills council talks sign language

After a year of monitoring the city's sign ordinance, Agoura Hills staff members have asked for further direction from the city council and left the door open to amend the law in six areas.

Planners and code enforcement officials reviewed restrictions on temporary commercial window signs, political campaign signs, outdoor menu boards, freewayfacing signs, secondary commercial signs and real estate signs.

Temporary signs in business windows and real estate signage in the public right appear to be the most egregious violators, officials said.

Sign enforcement officer Mike Gonzales said he's been speaking to business owners who are using fluorescent colors to attract customers.

"Enforcement of the window sign provision of the sign ordinance remains difficult since such signs are generally temporary and transitory in nature, thus requiring continued monitoring," said Mike Kamino, director of planning and community development, in a report to the council last month.

Kamino said some window posters are advertisements provided by corporations and their size can't be modified to fit specific windows.

Some business owners have been confused by how much window space can be covered by advertising. The law specifies 25 percent of windows' surface area can be used for posters, painted signs and other forms of advertising, but business owners said there was confusion over whether the figure applied to a single window or all windows. The 25 percent limitation applies to all of the windows at a business, not just one.

Councilmember Harry Schwarz said the temporary signs cause a "cluttered mess."

The council agreed that political candidates should be allowed to have as many campaign signs as they'd like during campaigns, but should be limited in how long they can leave them up.

Temporary real estate and garage sale signs placed in the public right of way, including medians, curbs and telephone poles, are banned under the sign ordinance.

Gonzales said that while he doesn't remove lost pet signs, he regularly takes garage sale signs off poles. He said some people have begun to place signs inside their cars, which are later left parked on the road.

Councilmember John Edelston said temporary signs are a "significant eyesore," and wants the ordinance to be made more specific. He said extra signs placed outside the doors of businesses are also problematic.

Councilmember Dan Kuperberg said he's had a change of heart with regards to the Agoura Hills sign enforcement issue.

"I don't think this is a big issue," Kuperberg said, adding that the city does not have a "blight" problem. Business owners should be able to run their stores "any way they want," he said.

"Allowing them to have control of their own windows doesn't bother me," Kuperberg said. He said the city has more important issues to worry about than whether 30 percent of a window is covered with advertising or 25 percent.

Adding more restrictions will just confuse business owners, Kuperberg said. As for real estate signs, he said he'd rather not limit the number of signs if a house will sell faster.

"The key is not just signs, but how we enforce (the law)," he said.

Kuperberg was alone in attempt to ease up on the sign ordinance.

Councilmember Bill Koehler said he thought time limits for temporary signs were more important than the signs' size. He said real estate agents appear to be using fewer banners and flags to attract potential homebuyers to properties listed for sale.

Louis Masry, president of the Agoura/Oak Park/Las Virgenes Chamber of Commerce, said his organization is most concerned with restrictions on "open house" signs.

"There is not a city that we have been able to identify that does not allow open house signs," Masry said.

Planner Doug Hooper pointed out that open house signs are allowed, but not in the public right of way, which includes sidewalks, telephone poles and greenbelt areas.

Hooper said directional signs are allowed on private property with permission from homeowners.

In addition to the house listed for sale, signs can be placed at four additional homes, he said.

In general, Masry said that the ordinance is too restrictive in business sign placement.

"It's kind of ridiculous, judging what business owners can do within their own private property," Masry said. "It's constant harassment."

Masry's biggest complaint is the restriction on real estate signs.

"Realtors should be able to put signs out as long as they are aesthetically nice and there are not too many," he said. He feels the same way about garage sale signs.

"People literally drive through the streets of Agoura looking for garage sales. . . . No other city is restrictive in that way," Masry said. Drivers seeking open houses and garage sales pose more danger of traffic accidents than do signs in public areas, he said.

City staffers believe drivers stop in order to read signs, raising the chance of a traffic accident.

Gonzales said he doesn't touch signs in greenbelt areas because they are generally governed by homeowner associations, which have their own rules and regulations as to what can be placed on the property.

Although he appreciates the city's many trees, Masry said he's unhappy that the trees often block business signs.

"Pruning of trees on a regular basis would help," Masry said.

Mayor Denis Weber agreed that some businesses are having problems with trees blocking their signs.