The Albany City Commission has, in the last hour or so, voted unanimously to give the sign ordinance another look. This time, in addition to code enforcement, business owners and members of the general public are to be part of the task force to help build a sign ordinance that hopefully makes a little sense.
Unfortunately, commissioners rejected the idea of a moratorium during this time period, despite the support from a large segment of the community.
Let’s make sure to give our commissioners plenty of input on this so they don’t make the same mistake again!
The Albany Herald story is here. I’ll keep you updated as more becomes available.
[12:26 PM Update]Apparently, City Commissioner Roger Marietta had a change of heart from his earlier position on a moratorium until a new sign ordinance could be crafted. Regardless, it’s a shame as it was one of the better ideas from anyone this year. Instead, I suspect that Code Enforcement may well be pushed to issue as many citations as possible before a new ordinance is put in place since any new ordinance is likely to be less restrictive.
[3:45 Update]City Manager Al Lott says he will continue to enforce the sign ordinance in accordance with the city charter, but that there may be a re-evaluation of code enforcement’s priorities, whatever that actually means.
Also, there was apparently no time frame discussed for when the new task force would be up and running, though I’m hopeful that there won’t be a huge delay. I suspect there are plenty who are willing to help out with the task force, including business leaders who have been hammered by the current ordinance.
So, the code enforcers now are going to write tickets for violations that may not be violations once the ordinance is “tweaked”? I’m hating it for them. This is why a moratorium was a good idea. More goofy stuff from city hall.
.-= Kevin Hogencamp´s last blog ..Pick up your new Journal this morning! =-.
You got it. They’ll be able to keep enforcing the rules that every single commissioner seems to agree were broken on some level.
I would love to get the lowdown on why this one happened.
Of course, it is possible that Code Enforcement will place themselves on a moratorium, or someone outside of the commission will do it, but I think that might just be wishful thinking.
Why should code enforcement even be on the new task force? Their job is not to make the law.
Let’s also see if the fine folks from Judy Bowles “Keep Albany Beautiful Commission” get to put their two cents in. Anyone want to bet they wind up being given the loudest voice by our non-representatives on the commission?
Nice flip-flop by Marietta, too. He now goes into the same category with Bob “Don’t Blame Me, I Only Voted For it” Langstaff.
Jack, I don’t have confirmation on Marietta’s vote, so let’s not be to quick on that one…unless you were there and can verify it.
As for Judy Bowles presence on the task force, we’ll see. Right now, it’s all pretty fresh. As we get new information, we’ll see who is going to be part of this and we’ll make judgements then.
It’s interesting to me that even though the “task force” is supposed to report in 60 days, no one is reporting who is on it (other than “code enforcement”–whose presence on such a task force is a textbook example of a tail wagging a dog).
I smell a whitewash. It seems like this is a distraction by the city commission, hoping this issue goes away. Please take a look at Hogencamp’s poll on his website. The vast majority of respondents think this monster should be done away with completely–not polished up. There is a similar poll on the Herald’s website with similar results. Unfortunately, not wanting to offend the country club crowd, that possibility isn’t even being considered by our non-representatives.
Marietta’s flip-flop is shameful, and I don’t want to even consider the “head in the clouds” input of someone like Bob Langstaff, worried as he is about “sign blight.”
Query: Do these people think the “blight” of signs is worse than the blight of vacant buildings?
“An albanyherald.com Web site poll has shown little support for the ordinance as it currently stands. With more than 480 votes cast by this afternoon, 59% said it should be scrapped and 34% percent said it needs tweaking. Only 7% of those who voted said it was OK as written.”
http://albanyherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=3884
“With more than 480 votes cast by this afternoon, 59% said it should be scrapped and 34% percent said it needs tweaking. Only 7% of those who voted said it was OK as written.”
Wow! 7% of 480 voters is 33. Does anyone know how Mike Tilson and Judy Bowles managed to get 31 handpuppets to vote?
While I agree that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions; I’m beginning to detect the rotten odor of arrogant governance.
Jack: It’s not the sign ordinance which will report in 60 days, that’s the time period in which Lott will “re-evaluate” code enforcement priorities. I don’t know why though, considering he’s already said that there will be continued enforcement.
There’s no time period yet on the task force.
Edited to add: WALB is reporting that there is a 60 time frame, but that is probably from when the task force is formed. If not, then we need some serious work.