23-2030 UDC Regarding Signs CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 23-2030
BY THE CITY COUNCIL: BORTON, CAVENER, HOAGLUN,
OVERTON, PERREAULT, STRADER
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MERIDIAN UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE
SECTION 11-3D-4,REGARDING SIGNS;REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,under the federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act,
it is illegal for any person or entity to sell or distribute controlled substances (21 U.S. Code §
828), or to advertise for an establishment that sells or distributes a Schedule I controlled
substance, even if state law purports to legalize such activity(21 U.S. Code § 843(c)(1));
WHEREAS,the adverse effects of the use of controlled substances are well documented;
for example, when inhaled or ingested, tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive chemical in
marijuana, binds to cannabinoid receptors throughout the brain and suppresses areas responsible
for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time,
both immediately and over the long term, and minors are especially susceptible to and impacted
by these adverse effects;
WHEREAS, in addition to violating federal law, signs advertising establishments that
sell controlled substances or drug paraphernalia have the effect of normalizing the existence and
business model of such establishments,notwithstanding the illegality of such establishments and
their activities under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, an effect that
disproportionately impacts youth, and which is unacceptable in and to the Meridian community;
WHEREAS, signs advertising establishments that sell controlled substances or drug
paraphernalia have the effect of stimulating interest in and awareness of such establishments,
notwithstanding the illegality of such establishments and their activities, an effect that
disproportionately impacts youth, and which is unacceptable in and to the Meridian community;
WHEREAS,the very purpose and nature of advertising on a sign is for the
advertisement to be passively and indiscriminately viewed by the general public, regardless of
any viewer's age, capacity, or sensibility;
WHEREAS,there is a direct link between the proliferation advertising of establishments
that sell controlled substances or drug paraphernalia and the use of controlled substances,
particularly by youth, which use has deleterious effects upon individuals, families, and
communities;
WHEREAS,prohibiting advertising on signs in Meridian by establishments that sell
illegal controlled substances is an effective means of reducing the indiscriminate promotion of
such establishments, reducing citizens' exposure to such marketing, deterring normalization of
such establishments, and preventing substance abuse in Meridian, particularly among youth;
UDC SIGN ORDINANCE UPDATE PAGE I
WHEREAS, given the harmful impacts of normalization of establishments that sell
illegal controlled substances and of controlled substance use to members of the public,
particularly youth, and the link between advertising and such impacts, the City has a substantial
interest in restricting the proliferation of advertising by establishments that sell illicit substances
and paraphernalia;
WHEREAS, on July 6, 2023, the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission of the City
of Meridian recommended that the City Council adopt these proposed amendments to the
Meridian Unified Development Code; and
WHEREAS,the City Council of the City of Meridian finds the prohibition of signs
advertising an establishment that sells a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia to be in the
best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Meridian;
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO:
Section 1. That Meridian Unified Development Code section 11-3D-4 shall be amended
as follows:
11-3D-4. - Prohibited signs.
The following types of signs are prohibited in all districts:
A. Any sign not specifically allowed by this article as determined by the Director.
B. Any private signs on publicly owned property, including the public right-of-way, except as
otherwise specifically permitted, in writing,by the authorized public agency.
C. Any signs which because of color,wording, design, size, movement, location or illumination
resemble or conflict with any traffic control device or with the safe and efficient flow of traffic.
D. Any sign displaying red,blue or blinking intermittent light likely to be mistaken for a warning
or danger signal.
E. Any signs that emit any sound, odor or visible matter.
F. Any abandoned nonconforming signs (see section I I-1B-6 of this title and section 11-3D-8 of
this article).
G. Any benches with commercially available space for advertising, except that the transportation
authority may place such benches at a designated bus stop.
H. Any sign that includes strobing, revolving or flashing lights.
I. Any sign using a prohibited light source as set forth in section 11-3A-I I of this chapter.
J. Any signs within the clear vision triangle as set forth in section 11-3A-3, "access to streets", of
this chapter.
K. Any signs for-illegal„se- advertisingillegal llegal activity.
L. Any signs that block the visibility of any other sign due to their location, size, and/or height
within a fifty-foot radius.
M. Any roof signs.
N. Any sign within any stream or drainage canal or within a floodway.
O. Any sign not maintained in a safe condition.
P. Any sign advertising an establishment that sells a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia,
as such terms are defined in Idaho Code section 37-2701.
UDC SIGN ORDINANCE UPDATE PAGE 2
Section 2. That all City of Meridian ordinances, or parts thereof, that are in conflict with
this ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section 3. That this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this 22nd day of August,
2023.
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this 22nd day of August,
2023.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Robert E. Simison, Mayor Chris Johnson, City Clerk
UDC SIGN ORDINANCE UPDATE PAGE 3
CERTIFICATION OF SUMMARY .
William L.M . Nary, City Attorney of the City of Meridian, Idaho, hereby certifies that the
summary below is true and complete and upon its publication will provide adequate notice
to the publi .
All
William L . M. Nary, City Attorney
SUMMARY OF CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO . 23 -2030
Amending Meridian Unified Development Code section 11 -31) 4, regarding signs ; repealing
conflicting ordinances ; and providing an effective date . The full text of this ordinance is available
at Meridian City Hall , City Clerk' s Office, 33 E . Broadway Avenue, Meridian, Idaho .
UDC SIGN ORDINANCE UPDATE PAGE 4
ADVERTISING PROOF
PRESS �p
MERIDIAN PRH55 c/o ISj Payment Processing Center
Local News Worth Holding mom. �'; Emmett PO Box 1570,
BO1SEWEEKLY® Messenger Pocatello,ID 83204
/ndex
Ph. (208)465-8129 Fax: (907)452-5054
BILLING DATE: ACCOUNT NO: LEGAL NOTICE
08/25/23 21410 SUMMARY OF CITY OF
MERIDIAN
ORDINANCE NO.23-2030
Amending Meridian Unified
1 MERIDIAN, CITY OF Development Code section 11-
33 E. BROADWAYAVENUE 3D-4, regarding signs; repeal-
MERIDIAN, ID 83642 ing conflicting ordinances;and
providing an effective date.
The full text of this ordinance
is available at Meridian City
Hall, City Clerk's Office, 33 E.
Broadway Avenue, Meridian,
Idaho.
AD# DESCRIPTION START STOP TIMES AMOUNT
August 27,2023
414997 ORD 23-2030 08/27/23 08/27/23 2 $24.06 414997
Payments:
Date Method Card Type Last 4 Digits Check Amount
Discount: $0.00 Gross:$24.06
Surcharge: $0.00 Paid Amount:$0.00
Credits: $0.00
Amount Due:$24.06
We Appreciate Your Business!
AD#414997