Before I begin this rant about the hypocrisy of city council candidate signs, let me state the following:
- Yes, I am aware that political campaign signs are exempt under 10-3E-5
- Yes, I am aware that just about all the candidates use this method of promotion
Ok, now that we got that out the way… here is the frustration.
During election season the council candidates place bright, cheaply made signs all over town. They clutter the streets and in neighborhoods without HOA restrictions they clutter the lawns.
According to the Liberty Lake City Comprehensive Plan, “Aesthetically pleasing areas instill a sense of pride in the community and serve as a magnet for attracting new business. Signage regulation is one method to achieve an attractive urban landscape.”
My main frustration is that these signs are the antithesis of that statement. So, why are the exempt?
The regulations continue to define some of the objectives:
- To have signs that attract and invite rather than demand the public’s attention along the City’s streetscapes.
- Candidate signage does not invite. It demands; with bright colors and bold print.
- To have streets that appear orderly and safe, because clutter is minimized.
- Clutter is an understatement in some areas.
- To have signs that enhance the visual environment of the City, because they are in harmony with building architecture and landscape design.
- Unless our buildings are circus tents, these signs do not enhance the environment and are not in harmony with anything.
- To allow business identification that is not unduly hindered by regulatory standards.
- Not a business (I Hope).
- To ensure typical communication and civic discussion is fostered in the City’s residential neighborhoods.
- Civic discussion is what we are doing now. So, mission accomplished.
- To allow signs that utilize high quality construction materials, fine architectural detailing, harmonious proportionality, and that serve a multi-modal environment.
- Nope, furthest from this.
In short, these signs add no value to the community. They don’t tell voters what they need to know to make a responsible and informed decision when voting. Each one serves to detract from the beauty of Liberty Lake and really gives the middle finger to local business owners who wish they could have that kind of exposure for their brand.
#end rant#
