Ark Valley News - City: Lighted signs must be off at night

City: Lighted signs must be off at night
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: February 14, 2019

The rule to shut off lighted outdoor signs will stay on.

Valley Center businesses, schools and churches with lighted signs in a residential area will be required to shut them off between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., thanks to action taken by the Valley Center City Council last week.

After hearing options for dimming signs overnight, the council on Dec. 5 decided to leave the regulation alone and directed city staff to enforce the rule.

"The city council wanted the existing regulation to stay in effect and wanted it enforced," said Ryan Shrack, the city's community development director. "As city staff, that's the direction we're going to take."

While the rule has been on the books for years, it was never strictly enforced. As long as there were no complaints, sign owners were allowed to leave the lights on or set them to dim overnight.

The United Methodist Church at Fifth and Meridian recently installed a lighted sign, which touched off a discussion among council members last month.

Three churches in Valley Center plus most of the school district's schools have lighted signs in residential areas.

Some council members said they didn't see a problem.

"We're making a big deal about something nobody is complaining about," said council member Brendan McGettigan.

Others said they've heard complaints.

"I have had complaints about the one on Sheridan," said council member Paul Davis. "… I think the regulation we have now is sufficient, but it needs to be enforced."

Shrack presented an option for dimming the lights, saying the city could purchase equipment to measure the brightness.

The option failed to garner council support.

"I like the ordinance we have," said council member Gina Gregory. "… I don't think we need to redo it."