While one Kansas City city council committee took steps to look for more sources of funding for a downtown streetcar line yesterday, another declared war on unwanted and illegal signs.
Signs that clutter public right of way and public utility poles were the topic of discussion at the Neighborhoods and Healthy Communities committee meeting. Some of the blighting signs are placed by zealous supporters of political candidates. But a more persistent problem is misguided entrepreneurs.
Northeast area resident Michael Stringer, who some call “The Sign Bandit,” said one of the worst offenders is a company that sells replacement windows.
“They have a quota of these to put out every day. If their workers aren't working on vinyl siding, they're putting these in the yard, so this is very frustrating. I really think the key to this is hitting them in the pocketbook,” Stringer said.
The ordinance endorsed by the committee would hit violators in the pocketbook to the tune of $20 per illegally placed sign – more for habitual offenders. City workers and volunteers will also conduct a “sign sweep” of illegal signs the week of April 17th.