SEQUIM — The City Council is considering changes to the city’s sign ordinance — changes that some business owners say fail to go far enough for small, locally owned shops.

About 20 local business owners attended an informational meeting Tuesday at the Sequim Transit Center, during which City Attorney Craig Ritchie and Chris Hugo, director of community development, responded to questions about a set of proposed amendments to the city’s sign ordinance that would allow more types of signs to be posted.

But the amendments do not go far enough, and the city isn’t enforcing the current ordinance equally, business owners said.

At issue was the longtime, common practice of small businesses placing sandwich boards on the grass strip along West Washington Street to direct traffic into strip malls and advertise specials.

The current city ordinance does not allow sandwich boards in or near strip malls, Ritchie said.

Public hearing

A series of proposed amendments will be considered during a City Council public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.

The amendments would allow stores located more than 40 feet from a strip mall’s property line to add a small, 4-foot-square sandwich board adjacent to the front of their business to help pedestrians find their way into their stores and loosen some city restrictions on other signs.

The 40-foot rule discriminates against the businesses near the front of the mall, said Randy Wellman, owner of Tarcisio’s Italian Place, located in the mall at 609 W. Washington St.

Wellman said that under the rule, he could not have a sandwich sign, but the business next door could.

Karen Kester, whose quilt shop is located in a less-obvious spot in the same mall, said she depends on the signs near the main road to help customers find her store.

The city currently allows downtown business owners to post sandwich boards in front of their shops.

Signs necessary

Business owners said that placing the signs by the street is necessary, especially when businesses are located in the back of a strip mall and nearly invisible from the street, while Hugo said they are a distraction hazard for drivers and detract from the general “clean” appearance of the city.

The city has received a few complaints about the signs, but recently, there was a major increase in signs, with a corresponding increase in complaints, Hugo said.

Businesses have signs on the fronts of their stores and on the main “monument sign” at the entrance to the strip mall to help customers find their stores, Ritchie said.

The city’s limit of a 4-foot square sign is too small and a possible trip hazard, business owners argued.

Typical sandwich boards are 2 feet by 3 or 4 feet, Kester said.

Ritchie said the size refers to the face of the sign and does not include the frame or legs on a sign.

He urged business owners and others interested in the issue of signs in Sequim to attend Monday’s public hearing.

The council has the option of expanding the ordinance to include even more signs if they are convinced it is necessary, Ritchie said.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.