Stricter Sign Rules Get Preliminary OK

After heated comments from residents and a sharp debate, the City Council on Monday night tentatively approved stricter rules for political campaign signs.

The new ordinance would allow the city to assess sign-removal costs to individuals or groups illegally posting them on telephone poles or other public property. The ordinance would cover all noncommercial signs.

But the focus of debate was on the signs used by candidates for elective office, with Councilman Tom Carroll dissenting and calling the action “misguided and mean-spirited.”

Charges and countercharges alleging misuse or stealing of campaign signs were made before a divisive November election in which Councilwoman Cecilia L. Age, Mayor Walter K. Bowman and Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry were targets of an unsuccessful recall drive.

Age asked in December that an ordinance be drafted to put teeth in the city’s existing sign law. Bowman and Kerry supported the proposal, while Carroll and Councilwoman Mary Ann Jones opposed it.

Some critics of Age, Bowman and Kerry accused them Monday of being vindictive.

“The three of you are just trying to get back at the citizens of Cypress who challenged you with a recall election,” resident Tim Keenan said to them.

Another resident, Don Wesling, said, “This ordinance, in my mind, is only to penalize future candidates from becoming known.”

In rebuttal, Age reiterated that the goal is to enforce an existing city law prohibiting signs on public property.

The council will take final action on the ordinance at its next meeting.