RESOLUTION NO. 260264
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Sponsor: Councilperson Nathan Willett
RESOLUTION - Directing the City Manager, within 90 days, to report to Council on City’s ability to regulate the unauthorized placement of advertising signs on private and public property and rights-of-way within the City and to establish appropriate enforcement provisions and penalties for repeat offenders.
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WHEREAS, the City Council of Kansas City, Missouri, is committed to protecting private property rights and preserving the safety, cleanliness, and aesthetic integrity of the City’s neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the unauthorized placement of commercial, promotional, or other advertising signs on private property without the express consent of the property owner or lawful occupant infringes upon private property rights; and
WHEREAS, the placement of unauthorized advertising signs within public rights-of-way, medians, parks, and other City-owned property contributes to visual blight, may create traffic safety concerns, and increases solid waste removal costs borne by taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, repeat violations by individuals or businesses impose an ongoing burden on City staff, public resources, and neighborhood volunteers tasked with removal efforts; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds it necessary to review existing Code provisions, evaluate any issues with enforcement and consider potential Code revisions or additions needed to establish clear, consistent, and enforceable regulations that deter repeat violations while remaining content-neutral and compliant with applicable state and federal law; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI:
Section 1. That the City Manager is hereby directed to report to the City Council within ninety (90) days of the adoption of this Resolution, on the City’s lawful and practical ability to regulate the following:
(a) Prohibiting the placement of advertising signs on private property without the express consent of the property owner or lawful occupant;
(b) Prohibiting the unauthorized placement of advertising signs on public property, including but not limited to public rights-of-way and other City-owned property;
(c) Establishing clear enforcement procedures, including authority for removal and cost recovery; and
(d) Providing for a tiered civil penalty structure for repeat offenders at the City Manager’s discretion, in a manner consistent with municipal sign regulation practices, including escalating fines for each unauthorized sign.
Section 2. That the report required in Section 1 shall identify any current City Code provision(s) regulating such matters, the extent to which such any such Code provisions or administrative issues present barriers to enforcement and any potential revisions or additions to the Code that assist in lawful and practical regulation of the matters described in Section 1.
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