By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A new sign ordinance was reviewed by Mona City council and will now be advertised and then addressed for action at a council meeting next month.
Katrina Long, council member, initiated the changes following a discussion a month ago about needed amendments to the sign ordinance. After that first discussion, she proposed some changes.
Sshe presented a copy of the proposed changes for review at the Tuesday meeting.
"A right-of-way means ownership of property and an easement is like a utilities use," said Richard Hatfield, city engineer.
An easement is an agreed-upon use of land by a party other than the landowner. Often these are utility easements. This can include access to natural resources on the land, development of necessary utility pipelines or construction and maintenance of a water storage facility.
Rights-of-way differ greatly from easements because they do not allow other parties to use the land, but simply pass through. A right of way allows others to travel on private property to get to a different destination. For example, a deed with a right of way may permit individuals to travel on a driveway, through a back yard or on another area of property. Typically, rights-of-way are issued to allow access to an adjoining property.
Long had struck out a few words and phrases to improve clarity.
She had also added a few paragraphs.
One added to the prohibited list (9-3-7) was: "Business advertising signs on city property unless previously approved for short term events in which a business has sponsored a city event. (Ord. 9-3-10, eff 2016) or if seasonal advertising has been purchased. (Ord. 9-3-11, eff 2016)."
The section headed as short term events (9-3-10) is new.
When adopted, by ordinance, all signs must be approved by the council and non-conforming signs will be removed.
An application form must be completed and approved prior to the erection of any sign. That application form will be available at the city office during regular business hours or can be found online at www.monacity.org.
The conditions on the application form must be agreed to and must include the sign format, wording, sign location, sign dimensions, the duration of time the sign will be on display which is four weeks and the removal of the sign after the event is over to be limited to three days.
"With the exception of Nephi Recreation, community and non-profit groups are only allowed temporary signage on Mona City property once in any six months," states the proposed wording.
Signs for each event are limited to no more than three locations. The council may erect more signs for major community events such as the Mona Easter Egg Hunt, the Pioneer Day Celebration, Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration and other such events.
Business advertising will only be allowed during the four weeks prior to a city event in which the business has contributed towards a city event as a sponsor.
Signage wording may not be indecent, insulting or offensive and the council retains the right to refuse any sign wording for any reason.
Placement, fixing and dimensions of the sign are determined and explained in the application form.
The council reserves the right to refuse a request to erect a sign based on this policy.
"The event taking place must take place in Juab County," said Long.
A section dealing with seasonal advertisement is also part of the ordinance.
One new concept in this section is that seasonal advertisement banner space may be purchased each year during the baseball/softball/t-ball season conducted by Nephi Recreation.
"The banner will be displayed on the inside of the west Mona City Park fence," said Long. "It will be purchased by the business or advertiser."
The banner will be stored by the owner at the end of the season, she said.
Also as part of this section, the moral standards explained in the first, are to be honored.
The enforcement clause will remain with the zoning administrator given the duty of enforcing the sign ordinance, ascertaining the conformance and giving notice of violation.
The city has the authority to remove a sign that is not safe or is illegal and the owner of that sign will be responsible for costs associated.
"Residents can now come in and look at the ordinance at the city office," said Newton. "The comment period is 30 days."
