OK, folks. With the Consolidated Election a recent memory that will have an impact on Naperville’s future, enough time has passed since April 7 for all campaign signs to be removed from sight.
Fortunately, this view of Arrowhead Hill also is a memory of free speech. We wholeheartedly support signs as one of the messaging ways for candidates to get their names in front of potential voters. But when is enough enough?
Have you ever wondered if there’s a proper way to place campaign signs?
All weekend, PN received queries about signs that were still up. “What are the rules?” folks wondered.
During a quick tour (while following the posted speed limit) throughout town on Sunday, campaign signs along many of the major streets—north, east, west and mostly south along 95th Street— remained illegally planted in the parkways.
We consider our city truly blessed to have had many more talented and dedicated residents run to serve our city than were open seats. Thanks to all who participated both on the ballot and in the voting booth.
Yet, what becomes unnerving are campaign signs that remain standing nearly a week after the vote. Residents will be forever grateful if candidates and/or their supporters take a tour to be sure signs are down.
Signs that remain up definitely leave a negative impression of the candidate’s campaign and service.
And if a candidate came up short during this election, save the campaign signs to run again in two years. Naperville City Council, local school board members and the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners will have open 4-year seats in the 2017 Consolidated Election.
One caller suggested using no-longer-wanted campaign signs in garden plots to keep weeds from growing around young plants. Now that arrangement would be an interesting view from the sky.
Admittedly, we removed a number of signs and returned them to the candidates who had asked for help via social media. That said, we left up some signs that were prominently placed for fear some candidates might think we took them down in advance of the election.
City Procedures
Concerning campaign signs, the City’s website outlines its procedures for addressing violations:
- Illegally placed signs in the city right-of-way (including city right-of-way adjacent to state and county roads within city limits) will be removed without notice to the campaign and discarded.
- Illegal signs (i.e. the size of the sign exceeds what the code allows) on private property will result in communication to both the campaign and property owner requesting that the sign be removed in 48 hours.
- Individuals and/or campaigns that continue to violate the ordinance will be issued citations.
To report campaign sign violations, call (630) 420-6100, option 3 or e-mail CodeEnforcement@naperville.il.us.
Open season for signs!
Plus, residents likely noticed this past weekend began the open season for folks selling houses. While it’s great for the local real estate market to promote “For Sale” and “Sold” signs, let us request that those commercial real estate “Open House” signs be placed properly on private property with permission and not illegally in the parkway, median, right-of-way or at the corner of a subdivision.
Other sources of aggravation are commercial signs selling landscaping services, lawn mowing and mulch or advertising unfamiliar businesses that now are going out of business. Commercial ventures promoted on roadside signs such as garage door repairs, cars for cash and home entertainment centers also are prohibited.
According to the City’s website, “Placing any type of sign in the public right-of-way, such as parkways (the space between the street and the sidewalk) or medians, is prohibited. It is also illegal to post signs on trees, fences or utility poles. Signs that are posted illegally, including “Garage Sale” and “Sale by Owner” signs, will be confiscated and fines levied.”
When concerns and complaints about code violations have been expressed to members of the City Council, some have responded that residents need to report illegally-placed signs to Code Enforcement. If they’re not reported, how would Code Enforcement know? Residents also can contact the Citizens Support Center.
And no matter what the friendly reminder, sports/scouts registration notice or worthy cause, just be sure to place noncommercial signs in the right location (never in the parkway), with permission from the property owner.
If Code Enforcement doesn’t hear from residents, the improperly placed signs will continue to be planted, littering up the landscape, creating distractions for drivers and violating local ordinances.
All cooperation will be appreciated.
Contact Code Enforcement at (630) 420-6111 or via CodeEnforcement@naperville.il.us.
Photo of the hill of campaign signs courtesy of John Colletti
Editor’s Update, April 14, 2015 / Calls with suggestions/concerns regarding sign clutter include requests for clarity regarding rules for citizens to remove them when illegally placed. Someone also wanted to know the best way to let neighbors know when a pet is missing.
Update, April 22, 2015 / Since the April 7 Consolidated Election, Mary Ellen Fieseler has been collecting dozens of errant campaign signs that remained in the parkways and medians. On April 21, when she arrived to help her husband, Councilman Bob Fieseler, clean out his office in the Municipal Center, she emptied the back of her vehicle filled with signs in the parking garage. Thanks to all residents who have been dropping off signs and sorting them neatly to help clear the parkways of clutter. And thanks to Councilman Fieseler for eight years of service on the Naperville City Council. Fieseler chose not to seek re-election after two terms.
