South Central Reporter

City of Centralia Plan and Zoning Commission met Sept. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

CALL TO ORDER

Roll Call

Comm. Ackerman __X___ Comm. Garrett ____ Comm. James __X___ Comm. Williams__X___ Comm. Arey __X___ Comm. Chaney __X___ Comm. Lund_____ Comm. Feig__X___ Comm. Etheridge_____

City Staff: Community Development Director__X___

Public Participation: Roger Campbell stated that he was told to come to Planning & Zoning with his request/complaint, after he spoke at the last City Council meeting. He stated that he did not know why he would be directed to present to the Planning and Zoning Commission, when his complaint was regarding a City Ordinance which he thought was created by the Mayor and Council. He stated that he felt that they were just giving him the run-around. He presented information regarding a Sign that he was ticketed for at the Lifestar Alert Inc. building that he owns on S. Poplar, next to the Post Office. He felt that the ticket was unconstitutional. He felt that the City Ordinance, that would not allow off-site adverting, was changed after his sign was approved. He felt that his sign had been targeted and he felt that the City Manager had a personal issue with it, due to one of the advertisements that it displayed. He stated that he wants Centralia to thrive and move forward, but that the current Mayor, Council and Administration are not helpful with that. He stated that he had spoken with previous City Administrators that felt the Sign Ordinance would not hold water in court. He doesn’t feel that printed ads work anymore and that Sign Advertisement is the way to go. He stated that he was sent an Abatement and then a Ticket for his Sign and he felt there were several others in Centralia that should also be ticketed, if in fact his is in violation. One being the Centralia Your Opportunity sign located on top of the Tequila’s restaurant building. He stated that the City does not rent office space inside of that building, so the City should be ticketed for their sign.

Jennifer Price stated that she respectfully was not in agreement with Mr. Campbell and that she did not want to see more neon or flashing signs in town. She mentioned other signs that are currently in town that she does not care for and does not think that they enhance the City in any way.

Micah Mulvaney stated that he had recently bought a building in Centralia with plans to have a Sign like Mr. Campbell’s and advertise for other businesses. He wondered why the City would want to hamper business support. That possibly the City should look at doing Sign Permit as they do liquor licenses and put a number on the number of sign that would be allowed.

MINUTES:

Approval of August 15, 2024, Minutes M: Williams 2nd: Chaney

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Sign Permit Application – Lincoln Liquor Discussion and recommendation – M: Feig 2nd: Chaney

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Sign Ordinance Discussion - Discussion regarding the comments during Public Participation. The Commissioners were not sure why a councilman would tell someone to attend and ask this commission to change an Ordinance vs allowing it to be considered by Mayor and Council. There was a motion by Feig and 2nd by Chaney to: Refrain from making a recommendation regarding the current sign ordinance. All were in favor.

ADJOURNMENT: M: Chaney 2nd: Ackerman

https://www.cityofcentralia.org/media/6551