The medians of Federal Highway in Boca Raton were filled with campaign signs.
Photo provided by Robert P. Gordon
By Sallie James
Boca Raton is cracking down on the clutter created by political signs, and violators will have to pay if they don’t comply.
Here are the changes:
• Anyone erecting 10 or more political signs must post a $500 cash bond with the city, up from a previous $100 bond.
• Political signs must be removed within three days after an election instead of seven.
• Political signs are only allowed if they are situated in public rights of way between 100 to 200 feet from the entrance to a polling place on election day, or an early voting site during early voting periods.
The changes are part of an amendment to Boca’s sign code aimed at eliminating the ugly clutter created by forgotten election signs and getting them out of public places. Before approving the sign code amendment on Nov. 25, City Council members added a reference to safety, noting that abandoned signs can also pose a safety hazard by limiting visibility.
Council members subsequently approved the sign code amendment, agreeing that the changes were sorely needed.
“This is a first step to stop the scourge of dozens of candidates’ signs littering our medians,” council member Scott Singer said.
“Our roadways were littered with signs and we work so hard to make sure our city has a great appearance,” said Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie, adding that some candidates erected 20 signs in a single median during the last election. “I have never seen so many signs in one concentration.
“It was so out of hand,” she said.
City code enforcement will monitor future placement of campaign signs and enforce any violations, according to Jim Bell, the city’s acting deputy director for Development Services.
Council member Robert Weinroth wanted the council to retain the seven-day time frame for removing signs, but other council members said three days is plenty of time to pick up signs.
“When they are isolated to the polling places, it should be fine,” Haynie said.
Resident Glenn Gromann, a member of Boca’s Planning and Zoning Board, said improper placement of political signs could create safety hazards by limiting visibility. He urged the council to include a reference to safety — in addition to aesthetics — in its sign code amendment.
“I think health, safety and welfare aspects of this ordinance should also be part of your consideration this evening,” Gromann said.
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