Marble Falls council planning sign-ordinance overhaul
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MARBLE FALLS — Long-awaited changes to the city’s sign ordinance could be in the cards after a vote by the City Council at Monday’s meeting.
City Manager Ralph Hendricks proposed the formation of a new working group devoted to sign-rule changes at the meeting, where officials also signed off on the purchase of a new mobile-command unit for the Police Department.
The current sign rules don’t cover many types of signs, Hendricks said, adding that lack of oversight has contributed to a confusing corridor for motorists traveling through Marble Falls.
Any changes to the rules would need to come before the economy swings upward, he added.
"That way, when the building does start back up again, we can cover more in a customer-friendly way," Hendricks said.
The current sign ordinance doesn’t cover flags, balloons, inflatable displays or signs for subdivisions, he added.
"What we would like to do is have a group to bring clarity to some very specific areas," Hendricks said. "We’d like to have them look at banners, new signs in newly annexed areas and requirements for replacements of signs when a business is sold or purchased."
Mayor Pro-tem Mike Pilley — who owns a concrete-construction business — said some aspects of the current rules are too restrictive.
"When a person spends $500,000 or $5 million to put a business here, they need to let someone know that they’re there," Pilley said. "(The sign ordinance) shouldn’t be so restrictive, or else why would they come here?"
The committee — composed of local business owners, residents and council members — will likely hold a series of open workshops with council members, Hendricks said.
The work could take several months, Mayor George Russell said.
"We need to get a group to start working on this thing," he said. "Sign ordinances are probably the worst thing a city council touches."
In other action, the council approved spending $125,000 in federal seized funds for a new mobile command center for the Police Department.
Funding for the purchase comes from money seized during investigations and won’t affect the city’s general fund, Police Chief Mark Whitacre said.
According to federal law, the seized money may only be used to purchase law-enforcement equipment, he said. Additional seized funds left over in the account could go toward a new firing range for officers, Whitacre added.
The command unit — purchased from the Round Rock Police Department — will help officers communicate with multiple agencies during emergencies.
"Any operation lasting longer than two hours, it could be utilized for that," Whitacre said.
Finally, the council voted 4-2 against a measure to move the council’s regular monthly meetings to the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Hendricks said the change was needed to give City Hall staffers more time to prepare for the meetings, which are held the second and fourth Mondays of the month.
However, the council voted instead to move meetings to 6 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays due to scheduling conflicts.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. April 12 in council chambers, 800 Third St.