The City of Mountain View discussed updating ordinances, approving resolutions and setting the city property tax during its city council meeting held August 10.
An on-going point of discussion at council meetings is the city’s garage sale ordinance. The main issue is garage/yard sale signs being left on the side of city streets days, even weeks after the sale is over. Proposed amendments to the ordinance include, unlawful to conduct more than three yard sales at the same location within one calendar year; no person shall erect, place or mark any sign advertising a garage sale on any street sign, or post, traffic signs or post, or any public utility pole; Any sign erected, placed or post marked advertising garage sale be placed no longer than two days before the sale and shall be removed on or before the last day of sale but no later than 12 noon the day following the last day of the sale. Information on garage sale signs shall include the address and dates of the sale. No cardboard boxes shall be used for signs. The person conducting such garage sales shall be responsible for removing any such signs; Any person found in violation of these terms shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and will be fined $15 for the first offense, $25 for second, $50 for third and after the third you will be denied a permit to have a garage sale; free permit will be available at city hall and must be picked up before the first day of the garage sale. Permits must be placed where they are visible from the street.
“Each permit is free”, stated Mountain View Mayor Donnie Pruett. “Instructions will be printed on the permit. Therefore everyone will know when they come in and get a permit, they can read the rules, they’ll know the rules. We’ve taken numerous complaints on the signs littering the streets so we’re taking action.”
Alderman Ellie Carson asked how these changes to the ordinance was going to be policed to which Officer Stetson Schwein asked if it was going to fall to the police department? Officer Schwein went on to state that in the summer time the department would almost have to have a nuisance officer to keep up with this ordinance. Alderman Judi Colter asked if the signs could be brought into city hall and then city hall would issue a letter/fine to help the police department.
“We have to do something. I know we’re going to have to do trial and error to get this to work. I think we can, but we have to start somewhere,” added Mayor Pruett.
After discussion was held regarding the wording of the changes to the ordinance, how to police it and when it would go into effect council decided to table the issue.
In other council news, council approved Bill #308, Resolution #20-08-07, a resolution concerning acceptance and compliance with various requirements to obtain financial assistance from United States of America, acting through the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. The motion to approve was made by Alderman Carson/Alderman Punkie Stevenson, Jr. with a roll call vote of all ayes from council.
The resolution setting the 2020 city property tax levy to $0 was accepted by a motion made by Alderman Colter/Carson with a roll call vote of all ayes from council.
