A proposed ban on most freestanding outdoor commercial banners is scheduled to come before the Greenwood City Council today.
Mayor Carolyn McAdams said the proposed ordinance is significantly scaled back from a more restrictive sign proposal floated in January 2010, which also covered freestanding signs, message boards and political yard signs and prompted vocal opposition.
If passed by the council and signed by McAdams, the ordinance would take effect in 30 days. The council meets at 4 p.m. at City Hall.
Cinderella Morris, clerk for the City Council, declined to provide a copy of the proposed ordinance this morning because the council had not acted on it yet.
Ward 4’s Charles McCoy said he had read the proposed ordinance and had some questions about what would be covered. Wall-mounted banners on the sides of buildings would be permissible, but vinyl banners would not, he said. He wanted to know whether cardboard-type ones would be included.
He said he had sought reaction from business owners, and “they didn’t seem to have a problem with it.”
McCoy, an employee of Greenwood Market Place, which employs a lot of banners, said upkeep of banners is important. He also said it is vital that any ordinance passed by the council be strictly and uniformly enforced citywide.
Council President Ronnie Stevenson said he also had some questions about what the ordinance would cover. He said when he first got a copy of the proposal, he thought it covered all types of signage.
“This is a little different,” he said.
Cale Ainsworth of Ainsworth Sign Co., a member of the city’s Sign Committee, said he found out about the proposed ordinance Monday.
His company doesn’t do banners, but he said he has talked to business owners who are concerned about the impact of the banner proposal.
McAdams said certain banner users, such as beer distributors, were “very ecstatic” supporters of the proposed curbs on banners.
“They said it would save them money,” the mayor said.
Ward 1’s Johnny Jennings said McAdams presented him a copy of the proposed ordinance last week. He said it was a step in the right direction.
“We’re just trying to clean Greenwood up a little bit. ... Trying to make it a prettier town,” he said.
Jennings said banners often are damaged by strong winds and left in tatters. Other times they represent traffic hazards because they can block motorists’ view.
Ainsworth said he hopes the council will restrain itself on pushing for a broader sign ordinance. He said he planned to attend today’s meeting.
“All I care about is getting the banners taken down,” McAdams said.
