CYPRESS : New Rules Sought for Political Signs

Vestiges of the city’s recent, bitter recall election surfaced this week as the City Council heatedly debated a proposal for tightening a city law regulating political signs.

The council split 3 to 2 in approving a motion that directs City Atty. John E. Cavanaugh to draft an ordinance controlling placement and removal of signs.

Council members Tom Carroll and Mary Ann Jones voted against the motion. Carroll said the effort could cost the city too much in legal expenses. Jones said taking up the political signs matter needlessly stirs up old angers.

The three council members supporting a tougher signs law were Mayor Walter K. Bowman, Councilwoman Cecilia L. Age and Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry, all of whom were kept in office in the Nov. 7 recall election, which was prompted by their controversial vote over a carpet warehouse.

At issue are contentions that many campaigners in the Nov. 7 recall election illegally placed political signs on utility poles in public spaces. An existing city ordinance, passed in 1983, forbids placing signs in such places. The existing law also says: “City personnel will be used to remove any such signs posted within public rights of way.”

Age raised the issue about political signs during the council’s meeting Monday night. She contended there were many sign-placement violations during the recall campaign. Age also said violators of illegal sign placement were not prosecuted.

“Our city attorney ought to look into fines for posting signs illegally,” she said.

But Carroll questioned how the city could police a tough law on signs. “How are you going to enforce it?” he asked.

Carroll also tried unsuccessfully to put a spending lid on Cavanaugh’s legal costs for researching and drafting a new sign law. Carroll’s proposed amendment for a $300 limit on the legal-research cost lost 3 to 2, with only him and Jones voting for the limit.

The council majority’s vote instructed the city attorney to return with a proposed sign law in January.