Folks like Diane and Jon are locally involved, and the duo of Gibbs and Long are being seen as the epitome of the Murrieta's version of the "good ol' boys club." The competition for the three seats on the city council is fierce. Local politics can be a tough ride. I know for myself, looking back to when I ran for Murrieta City Council in 2010, against folks like Alan Long, and Rick Gibbs. The campaign trail is brutal, exhausting, and the personal attacks are often relentless. Incumbents who are "good ol' boys" can be particularly vicious.
The last thing, with all of that going on, that a candidate needs, on top of the usual pitfalls of running for office, is a series of illegal actions by the city itself against their campaigns. Yet, in Murrieta, that is exactly what has happened.
Among the numerous local political scandals that have been rocking Murrieta, political campaign signs are being illegally pulled by Murrieta Code Enforcement. No conspiracy is the claim, but the enforcement by the city is being performed in a selective manner, treating incumbent candidates with preference over the rest of the candidates. At one point all signs were lifted, and then only the incumbents were able to pick up their signs before the weekend, while everyone else had to wait until the following week began to pick up their signs. This gave the incumbents a head start in placing their signs at key locations that before had been flooded with enough signs to keep them out of the spots. For some of the challengers, a number of signs vanished, were thrown in the trash, and in the case of Diana Serafin, her banner was separated from everyone else's signage, and left on a desk, to be forgotten, until Diana's persistence led her to it.
Coincidence?
There are strict rules regarding signage. Most cities have such rules. But preferential treatment, especially during an electoral race, should not be tolerated. Some candidates feel as if there has been special treatment for the incumbents. City Manager Rick Dudley apologized, claiming Code Enforcement was a bit more enthusiastic than they should have been.
Enthusiastic?
Signs for Jon Ingram and Diana Serafin were removed from private property. It is illegal for a city to yank signs from people's yards when during an election season they have every right to have those signs in their yards, and let's not forget that those signs are their own private property.
Is the City of Murrieta resorting to trespassing and theft to ensure the candidates they want in office win? Are the more conservative candidates, like Ingram and Serafin, being targeted for not being a part of the good ol' boys network?
Signs in neighboring cities by people who support the Murrieta candidates were even being targeted!
How deep do the unlawful, elitist actions by dirty politicians go? How far are they willing to go to ensure the opposition is silenced? How unlawful are the minions of the elitist ruling leadership in Murrieta willing to go to stop conservative candidates like Ingram and Serafin?
We've seen with the signs fiasco that the law is not something that stops these political mobsters.
Well, in the case of Jon Ingram, we can throw into the mix of illegal activities against candidates a stalker, and death threats. The stalker, before being arrested and facing felony counts, is thought to have been in contact with a number of Jon's opponents. Collusion? Has a race for city council gotten so disgusting when it comes to dirty political tactics that even congressional races look cleaner?
Ingram and Serafin both have experienced the incredible effects of massive smear campaigns, and we are still nearly a month away from election day. Could it get worse? With characters like those that are behind all of this, I am sure the muck has only begun.
Murrieta City Ordinance:
16.38.050 Exemptions From Sign Permits.
Sign permits shall not be required for the signs listed in this section. Exempt signs shall not be included in the determination of the total allowable number of signs or total allowable sign area for a site/use. This section is not intended to exempt signs from building permits or electrical permits.
A. Permanent Signs with no Size Limitation:
1. Signs located within shopping centers or similar areas where the signs are not visible from any point on the boundary of the premises;
2. Official and legal notices required by a court or governmental agency;
3. Signs erected and maintained in compliance with and in discharge of a governmental function or required by a law, ordinance or governmental regulation, including signs erected by a public utility;
4. Signs on licensed commercial vehicles, including trailers; provided, however, that vehicles/trailers shall not be used as parked/stationary outdoor display signs;
5. Bench and other signs located at designated public transit locations;
6. Change of copy within an approved comprehensive sign program that conforms to the provisions of the comprehensive sign program (16.38.060): and
7. Change of copy on existing structures.
B. Permanent Signs Limited by Maximum Size:
1. Occupant name, street number, and street name signs not exceeding two square feet in area per single-family or multi-family unit;
2. Signs for commercial, office.. And industrial uses not exceeding two square feet and limited to business identification. hours of operation, address, and emergency contact information:
3. Convenience signs and directional signs solely for the purpose of guiding traffic, parking, and loading on private property, and not bearing advertising materials. Maximum sign area shall be four square feet. Maximum height for freestanding signs shall be four feet. Taller signs may be approved by the director, if visibility will not be impaired:
4. Affiliation signs for auto-related uses; motels, and hotels that show notices of services provided or required by law, trade affiliations, credit cards accepted and the like provided the signs are attached to an otherwise approved sign, or structure. Signs or notices shall not exceed one-half (''A) square foot in area per sign, and no more than six signs are allowed per business;
5. Gasoline pump signs identifying the brand, types, and octane rating provided the signs do not exceed two square feet per pump face;
6. Names of structures, commemorative plaques, tables, dates of construction, and the like when carved in stone, concrete, or similar materials or made of bronze. aluminum, or other similar permanent material and mounted permanently on a structure. These signs shall not exceed four square feet and six feet in height; and
7. Official flags of a nation, the state of California and other states of the nation, municipalities, and fraternal or religious organizations, provided that the pole height shall not exceed twenty-five feet and the length of the flag shall not be more than one-quarter (1/4) of the height of the pole.
C. Temporary Signs Limited by Size and Period of Display.
1. Temporary Special Event Signs. A special event sign or banner is intended to inform the public of a unique happening, action, purpose, or occasion, (e.g., a grand opening or community event) and shall comply with the following standards:
a. A business or commercial center may be allowed to display special event signs or banners on its own site for a grand opening or similar event for two periods per calendar year for a maximum of fifteen (15) days per event, with a minimum of thirty (30) days between events. Sign area is limited to fifty (50) square feet. Banners should be affixed to a building;
b. An organization may be allowed to display special event signs or banners in any zoning district for a period of up to thirty (30) days. Periods up to sixty (60) days may be approved by the director if the applicant provides written justification. Sign area is limited to fifty (50) square feet: and
c. Special event signs shall not include promotional advertising.
2. Temporary Advertising/Promotional Signs. Temporary advertising/promotional signs painted on a window or constructed of paper, cloth, or similar disposable materials and affixed on a window, wall, building surface, or structure subject to the following limitations:
a. Signs may be displayed for a maximum of thirty (30) days within a ninety- (90-) day period to promote a particular event, sale, or product:
b. The total area of all temporary signs and banners shall not exceed twenty-five (25) square feet per business;
c. The area of temporary signs attached to, or painted on windows shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the window area:
d. Signs shall not be attached to the exterior of windows or doors except painted-on signs: and
e. Inflatable devices shall not exceed three feet in diameter:
f. Signs shall not be located above the edge of the roof on single-story structures or above the sill of the second story windows on a multi-story structure.
3. Temporary Business Identification Signs. A maximum of two temporary signs for the identification of a new business until permanent signs can be erected are allowed for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days. One time extension may be granted by the director. Total sign area for two signs is limited to fifty (50) square feet.
4. Noncommercial Signs. Noncommercial signs shall be permitted in any zoning district and in any circumstance where a commercial sign is permitted whether on-site or of site subject to the following provisions:
a. Noncommercial signs which relate to a specific election shall be removed not later than fourteen (14) days following the date of the election.
b. Noncommercial signs are subject to the same size and location regulations as permitted commercial signs, and are additionally permitted in residential zones subject to this section.
c. The subject matter, content or specific language of a noncommercial sign is not subject to review or approval by the city, subject to Section 16.38.080(J).
d. In a residential zone, noncommercial signs shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in total area per side. No sign shall be placed in a manner that would obstruct visibility of pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
e. in a residential zone, noncommercial signs shall not exceed an overall height of eight feet from finished grade.
f. Noncommercial signs shall not be placed on public property within the public right-of-way, except in those circumstances in which a commercial sign is allowed.
5. Real Estate Signs. Real estate signs offering property for sale, lease, or rent are allowed on private property in any zoning district subject to the owner's permission and the following limitations:
a. For single-family dwellings, one sign per street frontage not to exceed four square feet in area and seven feet in height. in addition, "open house" signs are allowed when a sales agent or owner is present at the site;
b. For multi-family dwellings, one sign per street frontage not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet and eight feet in height;
c. Individual commercial, office. and industrial properties not located in a commercial center or industrial/business park, one sign per street frontage not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet and eight feet in height; and
d. Individual tenant spaces within multi-tenant commercial centers, office structures, and industrial subdivisions offered for sale, rent, or lease, one sign per street frontage not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet and eight feet in height. In addition, one sign for each tenant space available not to exceed six square feet to be located at the individual tenant space for rent or lease.
6. Future Tenant Signs. Future tenant identification signs that provide information about the future use of a property subject to compliance with the following limitations:
a. One sign per street frontage except where a project has in excess of five hundred (500) lineal feet of street frontage, one additional sign may be allowed;
b. Signs shall be limited to a maximum of thirty (30) square feet and ten feet in height. Maximum fifty (50) square feet if combined with a construction sign; and
c. Signs shall be removed upon occupancy of the site.
7. Construction Signs. Construction signs providing the names of the architects, engineers and contractors working on the site subject to compliance with the following limitations:
a. One sign per street frontage not to exceed twenty (20) square feet with a maximum height of ten feet. Maximum size of fifty (50) square feet if combined with a future tenant sign; and
b. Signs shall be removed upon first occupancy of the site.
8. On-site Subdivision Signs. The placement of on-site subdivision identification/directional signs shall comply with the following standards:
a. Signs may contain only the name of the subdivision, name of the developer and/or agent, an identification emblem, sales price, illustrative graphics, and directional message;
b. A maximum of two on-site signs may be located within the project;
c. The total area of each sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet;
d. The height of each sign shall not exceed ten feet;
e. Signs shall not be illuminated:
f. Signs may be displayed during the two years following date of recordation of the final map, or until one hundred (100) percent of the units have been sold, whichever occurs first; and
g. Apartment and group housing complexes of thirty (30) units or more shall be considered within the definition of a subdivision for the purpose of this subsection. Small apartment complexes (twenty-nine (29) units or less) may display rental/sales signs during construction and for a period of one year following the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. One sign per street frontage not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet with a maximum height of six feet.
(Ord. 182 § 2 (part), 1997)
16.38.080 Prohibited Signs.
The following signs are inconsistent with the purposes and standards of this chapter and are, therefore, prohibited in all zoning districts:
A. Abandoned and/or dilapidated signs and sign structures:
B. Animals or human beings, live or simulated, except model home identifiers, designed or used so as to attract attention to the premises;
C. Animated, moving, flashing, blinking, reflecting, revolving, or other similar signs, except time/temperature devices and barber poles:
D. Banners, streamers, and pennants, except as specifically allowed by the provisions of Section 16.38.050 (Exemptions from Sign Permits);
E. Bench signs, except at approved bus passenger loading areas in areas other than single family residential districts;
F. Electronic reader board signs, except time/temperature devices.
G. Changeable copy signs, except as approved for a civic organization/institution, movie theater, regional mall, auto center, or unless otherwise allowed subject to a hearing before the Planning Commission;
H. Inflated signs, balloons, and figures except as provided in Section 16.38.050(C)(2) (Temporary Advertising/Promotional Signs) unless otherwise allowed subject to a hearing before the commission;
I. Light bulb strings except for temporary uses (e.g., Christmas tree lots) and exposed tubing (neon), except as allowed by a comprehensive sign program or as allowed subject to a hearing before the commission;
J. Obscene or offensive signs containing statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character which appeal to the prurient interest in sex, or which are patently offensive and do not have serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value unless otherwise allowed subject to a hearing before the Planning Commission;
K. Off-site signs not specifically allowed by the provisions of this chapter, including billboards and outdoor advertising;
L. Painted signs on fences, walls or roofs;
M. Portable freestanding signs:
N. Pole-mounted signs;
O. Projecting signs:
P. Roof signs extending above the edge of the roof of a structure;
Q. Signs erected in a manner that a portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of a fire escape, exit, or standpipe or obstruct a required ventilator, door, stairway, or window above the first story:
R. Signs not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter:
S. Signs emitting audible sounds, odors, or visible matter;
T. Signs that conflict with or imitate traffic control devices due to color, wording. Design, location or illumination, or that interfere with the safe and efficient flow of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic:
U. Signs on public property or projecting within the public right-of-way, except with an encroachment permit issued by the city; and
V. Vehicle signs attached to or painted on motor vehicles that are parked on or adjacent to property for more than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours, the principal purpose of which is to attract attention to a product sold or business located on the property.
(Ord. 1 82 - 2 (part), 1997)
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Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Murrieta: City manager apologizes for overly 'enthusiastic' campaign sign removal - Press Enterprise
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