Sign Ordinance Will Be Reviewed - After Tourism Season
By Diane Ivey

The Mackinac Island Ordinance Committee will take a closer look at its sign ordinance, but will not make decisions until after the tourist season, the committee announced during a meeting Wednesday, August 13. The committee also wants businesses to remember there is a ban on distributing paper leaflets and flyers on the street, that public trash bins are not to be used for employees' trash, and that bicycle rental shops whose operation crowds the street can cause too much traffic congestion on Main Street.

The city will discuss the sign ordinance in the fall, said Kelly Bean, Mayor Margaret Doud's assistant. Earlier this summer, the city tried to enforce a ban on sandwich boards, which businesses use to promote sales, restaurant menus and specials, and other events. Following a number of complaints, the city council sent the matter back to committee for more review.

"Nothing is going to be done that will affect anyone for the remainder of this season," Ms. Bean said, "but we will be looking at exactly what the problems are."

The city and many of the businesses differ in their opinions about the impact these signs have in the downtown area. Sandwich boards and cardboard signs are among those causing concern.

"Some of us think the signs are way too much clutter, and others say they aren't going to do any business without them," Ms. Bean said.

Committee member Michael Hart reminded the city about the Planning Commission's meeting with historic preservation experts August 1, where they agreed the city should create guidelines that will ensure its continued status as a National Historic Landmark.

"The concern for us is visual clutter," Mr. Hart said, referring to the historic preservation meeting. He worries that easing up on the sign ordinance would create more such clutter that might risk the Island's historic status.

The city also wants to meet with Mackinac State Historic Parks, which also uses sandwich boards downtown at its Visitor's Center, Ms. Bean said.

"We have to work together, but we definitely want more discussion to be held," she said.

A city ordinance prohibiting the distribution of leaflets, handbills, and flyers was also discussed by the committee. Such materials often end up littering the street, and blowing paper can also spook carriage horses.

"Not a lot of communities have to worry about paper blowing around and spooking the horses," he said, "but we do," said city attorney Tom Evashevski.

He also suggested the city might want to clarify and expand its ordinance to include stickers, which stick to the sidewalks and streets and are difficult to remove.

Ms. Bean said the city plans to continue enforcing its ban on hand-outs.

Mayor Doud reminded Island businesses to also help it enforce its rule against using the public trash bins for personal trash. Personal trash, usually generated by employees or businesses, is clogging trash cans meant for visitors, she said.

Letters have been sent on behalf of the city asking businesses to manage the situation, Mayor Doud said.

"It's still a major problem," she said. "Any help would be appreciated."

Commercial bicycles on public streets are another problem, Mayor Doud said. Because of the location of some bike shops, traffic is becoming congested when the shops rent a large number of bikes at one time, she said.

Areas of Main and Hoban streets are often blocked, and Mayor Doud said she has had to ask people adjusting their rented bicycles to move from the center to the side of the road.

Police Chief Jim Marks said he has also noticed the problem and is trying to enforce it. He said that while he understands the bicycle shops can't make all their adjustments inside when they are renting to a larger group, the situation creates potentially dangerous traffic situations.

"We have spoken to some places quite a bit," Chief Marks said. "We keep trying to monitor the situation. It's been a problem during the peak summer months for the last three years."

Chief Marks said he would keep watch on the situation and re-address it at the beginning of next season.