9.40.020 - Legislative findings.

The city council makes the following findings regarding the subject of political campaign signs: (1)

Individuals who are political candidates are possessed with important rights, which include the right to vote, to run for public office, to travel, and to address their appeals to the voters;

(2)

The public is possessed with the important right of safe and unobstructed travel over the public rights-of-way;

(3)

It is necessary as a matter of public policy that the buildings and grounds of public agencies maintain a strict appearance of neutrality during political campaigns;

(4)

The substantial possibility exists of a proliferation of political campaign signs in the city over extended periods of time with the attendant traffic hazards, litter, structural hazards, and loss of meaning of the message conveyed by said signs, in the absence of any regulation of such signs;

(5)

A compelling need therefore exists for a reasonable system of regulation of political campaign signs in order to protect the rights and advance the concerns stated hereinabove.

(Ord. 416 §1(part), 1988).