Mason City council approves second reading of ordinance regulating signs with electronic message centers

MASON CITY — On a split vote, the City Council in Mason City last night passed the second reading of an ordinance that would place further regulations on signs that include electronic message centers.

The council recently pulled out a section dealing with the electronic signs that was originally grouped with a number of so-called “housekeeping” amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance. The new amendment is less restrictive than what was previously submitted, but it still deals with brightness controls that automatically adjust the intensity of the light based on ambient light levels; prohibits full motion video or film; and no element of the display may flash more than one time per second.

Councilman Paul Adams unsuccessfully called for the measure to be approved on the final reading, saying the council had dealt with the issue all fall. “Public comment I’ve gotten via email, it just seems like the conflicts between the local business here that sells you signs and city staff have been resolved based on the latest communication that I’ve seen. Due to having four previous readings plus tonight, as well as the lack of public comment from people outside the ones that’s been in discussion with city staff, I just think it’s in the best interest to waive second and move to final and resolve this once and for all tonight.”  The motion to move to the final reading of the ordinance failed with four yes votes, but a super-majority of five were needed.

Councilman John Lee voted to approve the second reading, saying that one of the ordinance’s big objectors, Johnson Sign Company, has resolved their differences with the city.  “I think the business that was really pushing it, they came to an understanding of the slight difference in that they don’t think it’ll really affect the businesses or the companies around what they heard, so I have kind of switch my vote to a yes tentative,  but still that’s where I’m at.  I would have rather either killed this thing tonight or pass it on the third read, but since we didn’t get to third read, we’re going to go through six readings, we’ll see.”

Councilmen John Jaszewski and Joshua Masson voted against the changes. The council tentatively will address the final reading of the ordinance at their January 5th meeting.