FLOWERY BRANCH - Flowery Branch City Council Wednesday ended the city's moratorium on LED billboards and passed a regulation ordinance amendment that the city attorney said he could defend in court.
Craig Lutz made the motion to approve after proposing changes other council members accepted.
Those changes control sign message transition and duration; they prohibit message sequencing, and regulate illumination and brightness; Lutz said the city could defend it.
"LED billboards are new," Lutz said. "There isn't a lot of case law out there, but if you look at case law based on mechanical tri-vision type signs or the state Supreme Court decision for the city of Roswell, I believe it is defendable."
Lutz said under the amendment sign message transition would be immediate to avoid a flashing effect, and signs should automatically adjust brightness and dimness according to existing light conditions.
BUDGET APPROVAL
Council members did not want to delay voting in their new budget and gave it unanimous approval.
Chris Fetterman wanted to delay the vote until next meeting but agreed adjustments could come later.
"We want to make sure we have all the money going to all the funds," Fetterman said.
City Manager Bill Andrew said the $3 million spending plan is balanced and requires no tax increase.
NIGHT MEETINGS UNLIKELY
Mayor Diane Hirling said that evening council meetings won't happen again until and unless a new city council takes office.
Former council member Jan Smith presented a 69-signature petition calling for the late sessions, but the mayor says no one attends them.
Three council members with the majority vote don't want those night meetings.
The mayor said only one person, her husband, appeared at the last evening public hearing the city held.
Thursday
October 17th, 2024
8:21PM
