Hawaiian Gardens Municipal Code Ch. 5.90 Political Signs

A. As used in this chapter:

Political campaign signs means any sign urging the election or defeat of any candidate seeking any political office, or urging the passage or defeat of any ballot measure.

Sign means any bill, poster, placard, painting, sign or similar object in any form which contains printed or written words, symbols or pictures, or any combination thereof. Such signs are temporary signs.

B. Regulations.

1. No sign related to any election shall be posted except during the period beginning 60 days prior to and ending ten days after the election to which they relate.

2. No sign related to any election shall be posted, displayed, or affixed on buildings, structures, and vegetation located on public property, and/or public right-of-way; including power poles, traffic signs, lamp posts, trees, shrubbery, and other vegetation, constituting clutter, and a visual and esthetic blight.

3. No sign related to any election shall be posted, displayed or affixed on buildings, structures and vegetation or growth located on, over or across public property, including power poles, traffic signs, lamp posts, trees, shrubbery and other vegetation presenting a potential traffic safety hazard to users of public streets, rights-of-way and sidewalks.

4. No sign related to any election erected on private property shall be erected or placed at the intersection of any street or within the segment created by drawing an imaginary line between points 50 feet back from where the curb lines of the intersection quadrant intersect (see Exhibit "A" of the ordinance codified in this chapter, on file in the City Clerk's office), if it obstructs vehicular visibility. Final determination on this matter will be made by a certified traffic engineer.

5. Signs in residentially zoned property shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.

(Ord. 388 § 1, 1991)

The City Council finds, determines and declares that:

A. This chapter is enacted to encourage the most appropriate use of public land and structures; to conserve and stabilize the value of property; to lessen congestion on streets; to protect, enhance and improve the esthetic values of the City and to promote health, safety and the general welfare of its citizens; and

B. The posting, display or affixing of signs on buildings, structures, and vegetation located on public property, including power poles, traffic signs, and lamp posts, or trees, shrubbery and other vegetation, constitutes clutter, and a visual and esthetic blight. Such blight reduces the quality of the environment, including property values, of the community; and

C. The posting, display or affixing of signs on buildings, structures and vegetation or growth located on, over or across public property, including power poles, traffic signs, lamp posts, trees, shrubbery and other vegetation presents a potential traffic safety hazard to users of public streets, rights-of-way, and sidewalks; and

D. City-owned bulletin boards, marquees, display cases, stanchions and banner poles present a limited number of spaces in which to make official announcements of City-sponsored events or activities; to permit the use of such bulletin boards, marquees, display cases, stanchions and banner poles for purposes other than such official announcements would greatly reduce the opportunities for the City government to communicate with its citizenry regarding governmental functions or activities.

(Ord. 388 § 1, 1991)

A. Removal of signs posted or otherwise affixed in violation of this section may be removed by the City Administrator or his/her authorized designee. Signs removed by the City shall be taken to the City maintenance yard. The City shall attempt to notify the owner of the sign, if such can be ascertained. In cases where a sign contains the name of a person, organization, firm, political candidate, or other identifiable entity, the City shall also immediately attempt to notify such person, organization, firm, political candidate or other identifiable entity of the fact of the removal, the location of the sign and the procedure for retrieving the sign.

B. Any persons desiring to retrieve a sign removed by the City may do so upon the payment of an administrative fine of $2.00 for each sign smaller than nine square feet total and an administrative fine of $10.00 for each larger sign.

C. Signs not claimed, will be disposed of within ten days after the election to which they relate.

(Ord. 388 § 1, 1991)