Candidate Packet General Municipal Election November 8, 2016

Step 9 “Campaigning” POLITICAL SIGNS – PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY The City of Buena Park has an ordinance regulating the placement of temporary political signs in the public right-of-way (parkways adjacent to the sidewalk) and prohibiting temporary political signs on any public property (including parks and fencing around government-owned facilities). The City does not regulate political campaign signs placed on private property.

Political Signs In Public Right-of-Way Parkways (areas adjacent to sidewalks, from curb to property line)

Permitted.  No sooner than 30 days prior.  Removed by 10 days after.  One per single block, each side of street.  Cannot interfere with maintenance of facilities including landscape & irrigation.  Cannot present safety hazard.

Private Property

Permitted w/ consent of property owner.

Center Medians

Not permitted.

Utility Poles

Not permitted. (Penal Code §556.1)

Parks, Government-Owned Property, and Government-Owned Facilities (including fencing around such property)

Not permitted.

State highway right-of-way or within 660 feet of the edge of and visible from the right-of-way of a landscaped freeway.

Not permitted. (Business and Professions Code §5405.3)

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Following is an excerpt of the Buena Park Municipal Code 19.904.030 regarding the placement of temporary political campaign signs in the public right-of-way. Please read the entire excerpt. Division 9

Sign Regulations - Buena Park Zoning Ordinance

19.904.030 General Requirements. A. No sign, whether permanent or temporary, including any supporting structure and lighting thereof, shall present any hazard to the safety of pedestrian or vehicular traffic by obstructing the flow of such traffic, by obstructing the sight lines required for the safe movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, by interfering with the visibility and effectiveness of any traffic control or warning device or in any other manner. B.

C.

Appearance. 1.

Signs shall be designed and maintained to be compatible with the architectural design, style, and materials of the on-site building(s) to which the sign is affixed or otherwise located on the property.

2.

Signs shall utilize detail features, (i.e. arches, trim, siding, colors, rock veneer, etc.) similar to the style of the building(s) the sign is affixed or otherwise located on the property.

3.

Ground sign design and size shall be in proportion to the scale and massing of the development it identifies.

4.

Ground sign cabinets shall be architecturally integrated into the overall design of the sign structure to prevent the cabinet from appearing as an addition.

5.

Ground sign supports shall be wrapped with pole covers with design and finishes to match the on-site buildings.

6.

The location of proposed ground signs shall take into account the location of existing ground signage on adjacent properties so as not to block their visibility.

7.

Multi-tenant ground signs and wall signs with backgrounds shall maintain uniform background colors.

8.

No sign face or sign area shall be added to an existing sign unless within a permanent frame or panel indicated for such purpose on approved plans for the total sign structure.

Illumination. Where lighted signs are permitted, the illumination shall be fixed, steady and directed or controlled so as to prevent glare on streets, walkways, and residential property. There shall be no blinking, twinkling, scintillation, cyclic variation, motion, or the appearance of motion in the illumination of any sign. Electronic display boards are exempt from this provision when authorized under a conditional use permit.

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D.

Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in good condition and working order, to be free of graffiti, peeling paint, faded colors, and/or broken and damaged materials.

E.

Obsolete Signs. All signs shall pertain to existing businesses or services and goods offered on the premises. Any sign face no longer in compliance with this section shall be removed or covered to the satisfaction of the Director after 60 days of becoming obsolete.

F.

Signs on Public Property and in Public Rights-of-Way. 1.

2.

The following provisions shall control the placement or proposed placement of signs on public property: a.

No sign shall project over any public walkway, alley, street, or public property except as may be expressly permitted pursuant to this Article. On private property, in any outdoor areas open to the public, no portion of any sign attached to a building and extending below a height of seven feet above ground level shall project more than six inches from the face of the building.

b.

No sign, other than those required for traffic safety or pursuant to law, shall be placed, located, or maintained upon any center median of any street, highway or other improvement intended for utilization by vehicular traffic.

c.

No sign may be placed, located, or maintained in, on, or over any public walkway, parkway, alley, street, or any other public property which interferes with the construction, maintenance, or repair thereof, or of any facilities therein or thereon, including, but not limited to, landscape, hardscape, meters, or irrigation facilities.

d.

No sign shall be affixed to any tree or other plant materials located in any public walkway, parkway, alley, street or any other public property.

e.

Only one sign advertising, identifying, displaying, or directing or attracting attention to a particular idea or event shall be placed in the public right of way on each side of any single block. For the purposes of this subsection, “block” shall mean that portion of a street lying between the nearest two intersecting or intercepting streets.

f.

Any sign advertising, identifying, displaying, directing, or attracting attention to, or conveying an idea related to an event which is to occur on a certain date shall not be placed in the public right of way more than 30 days prior to that date and shall be removed no later than 10 days after that date.

Signs on public property or in public rights-of-way shall be placed only by public officers or public employees on duty, except for the following: a.

Banner signs advertising special community benefit events at specific locations stated below when both the event and the signs are approved

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by the City Council. The specific locations for the placement of such banner signs are: (i)

across Beach Boulevard on the south of the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Franklin Avenue,

(ii) across Orangethorpe Avenue, approximately 430 feet east of its intersection with Valley View Street, (iii) across Orangethorpe Avenue, approximately 75 feet east of the northerly extension of Indiana Avenue, (iv) across La Palma Avenue, approximately 675 feet east of its intersection with Valley View Street, (v) across Knott Avenue, approximately 185 feet north of Houston Street, and (vi) across Beach Boulevard on the south of the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Melrose Avenue. b.

Temporary signs pertaining to a political campaign placed in the public right-of-way.

c.

Temporary signs on public construction projects or development sites identifying the responsible agencies, officials, architects, engineers, or contractors. Such signs shall be neatly painted and not over thirty-two square feet in area.

d.

Temporary real estate signs in connection with each real estate open house in progress, subject to the limitations of subsection I of Section 19.904.080.

(Ord. 1441 § 1 (part), 2003)

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POLITICAL SIGNS – REGULATIONS FOR STATE HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS California Department of Transportation http://www.dot.ca.gov/oda/political_signs.htm As a candidate or campaign worker for either office or a ballot measure, this reminder about State law governing campaign signs should be helpful to you. Section 5405.3 of the State Outdoor Advertising Act exempts the placing of Temporary Political Signs from normal outdoor advertising display requirements. A Temporary Political Sign meets the following criteria: 1. Encourages a particular vote in a scheduled election. 2. Is placed not sooner than 90 days prior to the scheduled election and is removed within 10 days after that election. 3. Is no larger than 32 square feet. 4. Has had a Statement of Responsibility filed with the Department certifying a person who will be responsible for removing the sign. A completed Statement of Responsibility must be submitted to: Division of Traffic Operations Outdoor Advertising Program P.O. Box 942874, MS-36 Sacramento, CA 94274-0001. Temporary Political Signs shall not be placed within the right-of-way of any highway, or be visible within 660 feet from the edge of the right-of-way of a classified "Landscaped freeway". State law directs the Department of Transportation to remove unauthorized Temporary Political Signs and bill the responsible party for their removal.

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