COSTA MESA : City Relents; Mall Can Fly Its Banners

The City Council decided Monday to allow a downtown mall to fly 48 bright holiday banners that city officials said last month were illegal.

Red flags carrying the legend “Season’s Greetings From Triangle Square” violated a city sign ordinance because they hung over public sidewalks, City Atty. Thomas Kathe told the council.

But council members unanimously voted to make a temporary exception for the banners, and directed city employees to write a new ordinance to allow some holiday banners in the city.

The council also told Kathe to ask a municipal judge to dismiss 48 citations issued in November for the violations.

“We’re happy that the council is going to dismiss the citations, and that they’re willing to discuss an annual banner program,” Triangle Square Manager Lars Anderson said after the meeting.

Anderson told the council that the mall had never intended to put up the signs illegally. He thought he could hang them from lampposts the mall operates without applying for a permit, he said.

Council members debated the issue for more than an hour. Mayor Sandra L. Genis, who first complained about the banners, said she was upset that the mall did not seek permission.

But Councilman Peter F. Buffa said he thought code enforcement was harsh in citing the banners. “This should not be before us,” Buffa said. “Cities rack their brains about how to revitalize downtowns. One way to do that is to have projects that are inviting.”

Some residents came to the meeting in support of the banners.

“We saw the signs and said, ‘What a nice gesture,’ ” said Mike Lora, who attended the council meeting with his wife, Melissa.