49°F
weather icon Windy

What’s your sign?

In their 1971 hit entitled “Signs”, the 5 Man Electrical Band sang, “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind. Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?”

Chances are they were not talking about political signs but you never know. After all, it was the 1970s.

With the political season in full swing and the primary election June 11, when driving around Boulder City, more and more signs are popping up in yards and outside of businesses for those seeking a variety of offices, including city council and justice of the peace.

While political signs are legal in city limits, there are some restrictions, specifically when it comes to size and placement.

According to City Clerk Tami McKay, noncommercial messages, such as political signs, are not subject to permit requirements per the city’s current sign ordinance. In residential zones, people are allowed to have noncommercial message signs on their property at any time of the year subject to them being no larger than 6 square feet per sign, a maximum of 4 feet high and they cannot be illuminated.

City code states there is a temporary increase in noncommercial message signs during the period beginning 60 days before any primary, special or general election, and ending five days thereafter.

The temporary increase is:

■ In commercial and industrial zones: An additional 18 square feet of sign area;

■ In residential zones: An additional 14 square feet of sign area per sign.

For example, the temporary increase permitted before the June 11, 2024 primary election began April 12, 2024. The temporary increase for the primary election would end five days thereafter on June 16, 2024.

“I would encourage candidates to visit the city’s elections page at bcnv.org/189/elections to learn more about political sign requirements,” McKay said.

The temporary increase permitted before the Nov. 5, 2024 general election begins Sept. 6, 2024. The temporary increase for the general election would end five days thereafter on Nov. 10.

McKay stressed that political signs cannot be placed on city property, public utility poles or within highway rights of way. And, permission must be obtained by the owner of private property before a sign can be placed.

The code states, “Subject to the property owner’s consent, a noncommercial message of any type may be substituted for any duly permitted or allowed commercial message or any duly permitted or allowed noncommercial message, provided that the sign structure or mounting device is legal without consideration of message content. Such substitution of message may be made without any additional approval or permitting. This provision prevails over any more specific provision to the contrary within this chapter. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message. This provision does not create a right to increase the total amount of signage on a parcel, lot or use; does not affect the requirement that a sign structure or mounting device be properly permitted; and does not allow the substitution of an off-site commercial message in place of an on-site commercial message.”

MOST READ
THE LATEST
Council tees up multiple pet issues

Long-running issues involving pets in Boulder City are about to heat up again as three resolutions were introduced at this Tuesday’s council meeting. Resolutions have to be introduced in a meeting prior to them being discussed or voted on. These resolutions are scheduled to be discussed and acted upon in the council’s Feb. 25 meeting.

City continues dark-sky initiative

When driving around town, some may have noticed that many of the city’s street lights have a different look to them.

Airport development readies for takeoff

The city council discussed and provided direction to city staff Tuesday on a plan to develop additional hangars at the Boulder City Municipal Airport as well as development of a larger area for multiple uses including additional hangars.

Downtown Disney

This past Saturday, more than 200 people donned their best Disney outfits for the monthly Wine Walk, hosted by the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce. There were nearly two dozen downtown locations for attendees to stop for wine, including those pictured at the Boulder City Company Store, Beer Zombies and Hangar 502. Each walk has a theme, with the next being March 8 with the theme of Vegas Golden Knights.

Removed city gate causes concern

On Jan. 28, School Resource Officer Eric Prunty, who is assigned to BCHS by the Boulder City Police Department but also serves the three other public schools, contacted Garrett Junior High Principal Melanie Teemant regarding “a campus security issue.”

The bond between Boulder City and Searchlight

If you talk to the staff at Harry Reid Elementary School in Searchlight, you may hear them describe their campus as “the heart of the community” or “the jewel of the desert.”

Council gives lake-view lot to chamber

After a very short introduction by city staff and without discussion, the city council voted unanimously last week to give a 50-foot-square piece of city-owned land to the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

20-year lease extension up for vote

The gun club was not the only entity with lease extension business before the city council in their meeting last week.

Commercial zoning in Eldorado approved

The going-on-a-year-long process of adding four acres of land to Boulder City and approving it for commercial use is all over except the shouting as the city council voted unanimously and without discussion as part of the consent agenda to approve the changes to the city’s land use map as well as amending the zoning map to allow for future commercial development.

Out of this world: A look at Fisher Space Pen

In a popular episode of “Seinfeld,” appropriately entitled “The Pen,” Jerry and Elaine travel to Florida to see his parents. There, a neighbor, Jack Klompus, shows off a pen that the astronauts used in space because of its ability to still write, even when upside-down.