The Shawano Plan Commission on Wednesday held discussions about recreating and repealing a city ordinance regarding the use of electronic display signs.
In 2015, the city adopted an ordinance which required businesses to display a single message for at least 30 seconds, although it was loosely followed because many businesses and their signs were considered grandfathered in and change messages every five seconds or less.
The commission had the intention of amending the ordinance to changing no more than once every eight seconds.
The ordinance does create an issue for business owners hoping to implement new signs and some argue keeping one message for 30 seconds was over-the-top and unnecessary.
No safety concerns have come about because of the electronic signs, and after a long discussion the plan commission came to the recommendation of three seconds minimum for the signs before they’re allowed to change. Any other animated displays will be held to a six-second minimum.
It will be presented to the Shawano Common Council at their next meeting.