The Hailey City Council voted to maintain a prohibition on flashing lighted business signs in the downtown business district Monday, but will consider extending time permits for the use of soft, vinyl and fabric signs to help attract customers to Main Street stores and restaurants.
The flashing-sign prohibition was upheld by the Planning and Zoning Commission in February, but brought to the council for review Monday because some business owners have expressed a need to advertise their locations more effectively.
"This has been brought before us because Hailey has gotten a reputation of not being friendly to business," said Mayor Rick Davis on Monday.
Jane's Artifacts owner Jane Drussell spoke in favor of allowing flashing signs, but the idea was struck down by the City Council, due in large part to safety concerns raised by police Chief Jeff Gunter. He said the flashing signs could distract and confuse drivers, causing accidents.
"Unfortunately, we have a Main Street that is also a highway with flashing sidewalk crossing signs," Gunter said.
Only Councilman Fritz Haemmerle supported allowing flashing signs. He also said the city should be more lenient in its prohibitions on vinyl, fabric banners and signs, in order to be more "pro-business."
"Tacky is kind of fun," Haemmerle said.
Community Development Department Director Beth Robrahn said last week that soft-material signs may be aesthetically appropriate and give the false impression that the business is temporary. She initiated a move to limit the use of such "temporary" signs made of soft materials to 72 hours or less, but the council expressed a desire to see the term extended for up to six months.
Robrahn was instructed to work out the details of the sign ordinance based on input from sign-maker and artist Keith Joe Dick and Drussell.
Both Dick and Drussell attended Monday's meeting and provided sign design ideas to the council that could bring a compromise to satisfy the aesthetic tastes of the Community Development Department and Hailey business owners.
The ordinance will be back before the council for review at a future meeting.
In other Hailey news:
( The Sawtooth Rangers were granted a three-year lease to use the new Rodeo Arena on Fourth of July weekend until 2013. The Rangers will be charged $2,500 plus $1 per every ticket sold over 2,500.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
