SLT taking stab at enforcing sign ordinance
South Lake Tahoe is on a beautification quest of sorts. This means it is going to start enforcing rules on the books so the city looks better. Officials are going to start with the sign ordinance.
This means actually not allowing the illegal signs.
Businesses with a permitted sign do not need to do anything. Businesses with unpermitted signs should contact the city’s planning division to determine if their signs require a permit or not.
Unpermitted signs typically include signs added to the sides of buildings, sandwich boards displayed during times when they are not allowed, temporary signs, and various miscellaneous signs on buildings may not be permitted.
“Too many signs on buildings adds to the clutter of Highway 50 and detracts from the natural environment. With the new Fix-Up 50 Initiative, the City’s Code Enforcement Officers will initiate a community outreach and education effort requesting voluntary compliance to remove unpermitted signs. By the end of April 2015, unpermitted signs not removed will be citied,” Police Chief Brian Uhler said in a statement.
This code enforcement falls under the purview of the police department. Non-sworn personnel are used for this work.
This is what code enforcement officers plan to do:
• March: Community outreach – Explorer Scouts handing out informational brochures to all businesses on Highway 50.
• April 1-12: Code enforcement officers and planning officials to confirm/document all unpermitted signs.
• April 13-24: Code enforcement officers will visit all businesses with non-compliant signs. Notice will be given to remove signs within two weeks.
• April 27-May 11: Code enforcement staff will issue citations to violators who have not acted upon the warning. City staff will remove all signs that were not removed voluntarily to retain as evidence of the violation.
Businesses may call 530.542.6010 for more info.
Classic government think, we have business hanging on by a thread, so let’s do all we can to keep them from succeeding.
Our town will look soooo beautiful after ridding itself of illegal signs.
…I like to think, I like to read. I’m into freedom of speech and freedom of choice, I’m the kind of guy who likes to sit in the greasy spoon and think; should I have the t-bone stake or the jumbo rack of BQ ribs with the side order of gravy fries. I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and buckets of cheese, ok. I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section, I wanna run through the streets naked with green jell-o all over my body, reading playboy magazine, why? Because I might suddenly feel the need to, ok pal? (full quote)
Speaking of signs (but off topic a bit)…. the City (DPW?) changed the street signs on Sierra Blvd (WHY)… and renamed Sierra BLVD (to) Sierra AVE. The new signs are pretty ugly – they include a COLOR logo which clutters up the sign – prefer the former plain green street sign with white print. The new logo must cost lots of $$ (4-color print separations), looks cluttered, and re-names Sierra Blvd to Sierra Ave – which it is not. I would really like to know why they are spending money to meke this big mistake?
PS – I did leave a voicemail for DPW in Janury about the changing of the first street sign on Sierra BLVD, but never received a returned call.
“”I would really like to know why they are spending money to “meke” this big mistake?””
that was intentional yes?
bleek and bare that’s the look they are going for.
don’t forget balloons they have been outlawed for many years.
the folks who make these laws do not know what it’s like to scratch out a living here in South Lake Tahoe.
does not look like the calvary church sign (crosses) on emerald bay road is compliant. wonder if they pulled a permit…
There was a time when the sign ordinance was enforced and it improved the looks of Hwy. 50. A clutter of signs and sandwich boards blocking the walking areas does not bring in business. In addition, hopefully the City will enforce the ban on outdoor displays. Our attractive redevelopment area at Stateline is looking junky with clothing and other displays outside. Thank you City for trying again!
Love them in your face crosses. A semaphore that says ‘We killed Jesus RIGHT HERE! come in, we’ll treat you right'(sure you will). Fear mongering bastages.
hmmmm: yup
Our staff were apprised of this comment regarding street signs on Sierra Boulevard by Lake Tahoe News this morning and we appreciate the information. Street crews drove through Sierra Boulevard to locate any incorrect signs and did locate one incorrect sign at the corner of Sierra and Fountain. We have an in-house sign department that manufacturers street signs. They will make a new sign and get it installed today. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
As for the colors and design, the signs are made in accordance with MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices). The white prism background is reflective and may appear as if it is in color, however, it is not, it’s reflective material to allow vehicle lights to pick up the lettering in the evening when the lights are shinning on the sign. All signs, fonts, coloring and lettering is dictated by the MUTCD. The exception to the standards are for wayfinding signs.
We have also checked our voice messages and do not have a message. Please feel free to call the streets division directly to report a concern at 530-542-6083.
~Jim Marino, Assistant Public Works Director
@business owner….your quote says it all, which is why i think you are an emotional 2 year old.
Lets make SLT look like North Star. Fake, sterile, plastic. No one lives there year round except for a handful of sales people and developers.
Where in the heck did the MUTCD come from and when? Now we have mishmash. Reinvent the wheel to keep your job. The sandwich board on the lake side at Fremont does bug me on weekends. The thrift store is a block away from the sign.
All bureaucracies must use acronyms as much as possible.
It makes them feel in-the-know and special.
It also allows all kind of regulatory references to be included in documents and the uninformed don’t know what is being said without researching the sometimes appended glossary.
Spell it out is a concept that is now well received or followed.
Thanks for following up with the street sign. I just left a message for Jim Marino at DPW… my original message (which was specific) was in mid January, so they would not find it on a recent voicemail. I think it is important to “proof-read” signs before turning them out — they are very expensive even when manufactured in-house.
Thanks again for the follow-up.