CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will hold a public hearing on updates to the city's sign ordinance necessitated by a United States Supreme Court case handed down last year.

The council will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28, for a performance evaluation of City Manager Greg Folsom before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

One of the main items on the council's agenda is the public hearing related to the sign ordinance.

On June 18, 2015, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in Reed vs. The Town of Gilbert, involving an Arizona community that had sign regulations in place that applied different criteria to where, when and how temporary signs could be displayed depending on the message.

The court found that Gilbert's content-based restrictions on speech weren't justified by its interest in aesthetics and traffic safety, and that they therefore violated the First Amendment's Free Speech provision.

Earlier this month, the Clearlake Planning Commission went over proposed changes to the city of Clearlake's rules that are necessary as a result of the decision, as Lake County News has reported.

The commission unanimously recommended approval of the updated ordinance at its July 5 meeting.

Changes include removing a portion of the elections section that regulates election and political signs based on content, limiting the size of window signage, allowing for additional signage on properties that offer products for sale that are grown or raised onsite, and offering a conditional use permit to allow for signs that are flashing and rotating, or have moving parts or lighted elements.

In other business, the council will consider an agreement with the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce for use of office space at the community center, and select voting delegates and alternates for the League of California Cities annual convention in October.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers and the amended job classification for the maintenance worker I/II position.

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