08-C Moratorium Ordinance
DRAFT
G:\Attorney\LINDA\Ordinances\Current\Moratorium Ordinance.wpd
April 8, 2005
ORDINANCE NO. _______________
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
PARIS, TEXAS, SUSPENDING THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR AND
IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE ERECTION, RECONSTRUCTION,
AND PLACEMENT OF GROUND SIGNS, POLE SIGNS, SIGNBOARDS,
BILLBOARDS, TORPEDO SIGNS, AND ELECTRIC SIGNS, WITHIN THE
CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PARIS; ESTABLISHING A DURATION
FOR SAID MORATORIUM AND SUSPENSION; AUTHORIZING THE
PREPARATION OF A NEW ORDINANCE REGULATING SIGNS AND
BILLBOARDS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PARIS;
PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas, finds and determines that
the sign regulations of the City of Paris, as contained in Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances,
were originally codified in 1970 and have not been substantially reviewed or revised since 1986;
and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines that the State and Federal laws and
regulations related to signs and billboards have substantially changed since the City’s sign
regulations were reviewed and revised; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines that the desires and needs of the
community and the citizens of the city of Paris with regard to the regulation of signs and
billboards have likewise changed and matured since the City’s sign regulations were reviewed and
revised; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it appropriate to suspend the issuance of permits for
and impose a moratorium on the erection, reconstruction, and placement of ground signs, pole
signs, signboards of all kinds, billboards, torpedo signs, and electric signs, whether on buildings
or on the ground, requiring a permit or not, for a reasonable time to allow the development of
new regulations applicable to the erection, reconstruction, and placement of ground signs, pole
signs, signboards, billboards, torpedo signs, and electric signs within the city limits of the city of
Paris; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in all
things approved.
Section 2. That, from and after the effective date of this ordinance, the issuance of
permits for the erection, reconstruction, or placement of ground signs, pole signs, signboards of
all kinds, billboards, torpedo signs, or electric signs, on buildings or on the ground, within the
city limits of the city of Paris, Texas, which require the issuance of such permits under Chapter
28 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris incident to their erection, reconstruction, or
placement, shall be and is hereby suspended, and a moratorium is hereby imposed prohibiting the
erection, reconstruction, or placement of ground signs, pole signs, signboards of all kinds,
billboards, torpedo signs, or electric signs, on buildings or on the ground, whether requiring a
permit or not, within the city limits of the city of Paris for the period of time specified herein.
Section 3. That the duration of the suspension of the issuance of permits for, and the
moratorium prohibiting the erection, reconstruction, or placement of ground signs, pole signs,
signboards of all kinds, billboards, torpedo signs, or electric signs, as imposed by Section 2 of
this ordinance, shall be for a period of ninety (90) days following the effective date of this
ordinance, or for a greater or shorter duration as subsequently provided by further action of the
City Council of the City of Paris.
Section 4. That the City Manager, City Attorney, and the City staff shall be and are
hereby instructed during the pendency of the suspension of the issuance of permits and the
moratorium herein imposed, to develop and propose new regulations for the future erection,
reconstruction, and placement of ground signs, pole signs, signboards of all kinds, billboards,
torpedo signs, electric signs, and all other signs within the city limits of the city of Paris, and to
present said regulations to the City Council for their consideration and adoption.
Section 5. That this ordinance shall not be construed to prevent the erection or placement
of political signs, approved cloth or banner signs, real estate signs, or signs associated with the
sale of real estate.
Section 6. That any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine in an amount not to
exceed $500.00. Each day any violation of this ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate
offense.
Section 7. That this ordinance shall be effective from and after its date of passage and
publication as required by law.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 11th day of April, 2005.
____________________________________
Curtis Fendley, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________________
Larry W. Schenk, City Attorney