Ephrata council approves new rules for temporary signage

EPHRATA — New rules regulating temporary signage in the community were approved by Ephrata City Council members last week.

It’s a major election year, and with that comes a proliferation of candidate campaign signs dotting the landscape, in and out of town, usually on private property. In urban areas, they are often clustered together for visibility in high-traffic locations.

Earlier this summer, questions were raised about the possibility of campaign signs showing up in city parks and municipal rights-of-way, if that could be perceived as a tacit endorsement, and whether the city had specific authority to remove them.

Other examples of temporary signage could include signs for yard sales, open houses, and special events.

City staff and legal counsel researched draft language to supplement an already existing ordinance which governs more-permanent signs used for business, directional, institutional, industrial, public service, and real estate functions.

There were discussions on an approach that balanced public safety, pedestrian and vehicle mobility, maintenance issues, visual aesthetics, and free speech rights to achieve “content-neutral standards and practical enforcement tools,” according to a policy summary.  

The amendment was adopted by council members during their Aug. 19 meeting.

Under the new measure, temporary signs are exempt from city permitting requirements. They are specifically banned in city parks and parks facilities, public property, and rights-of-way including sidewalks and paved areas intended for pedestrian and vehicle use. Signs may be allowed in a space between a curb or pavement and a property line if approved by an abutting landowner.

The new amendment does allow certain exemptions in public spaces and city property for temporary government signs and other authorized permits, licenses, and special event notices.

Temporary signs on private property may be free-standing or surface-mounted to a fence or wall, but they may not be placed for more than 180 days. The signs are expected to be stable “under all weather conditions.” Banners, streamers, and other “aerial displays” affected by air movement or mechanical means are prohibited in most instances. Non-compliant signs can be removed without notice and held for at least two weeks before being considered "abandoned" and subject to disposal.

Their sizes are regulated by square footage and height depending on their placement, which can include non-residential zones, low- and mixed-density residential zones, and building windows.

"So as long as the signs are small ... they are good to go," said Ephrata community development director Ron Sell.

Regarding their content, Sell said the city is "very limited on what the sign has to say."

Sell told the council that the draft language was submitted for review by the state Department of Commerce for compliance with Washington’s Growth Management Act. No comments or objections were received, he said.

Anyone with questions regarding temporary signage regulations can contact Sell at Ephrata City Hall (call 509-754-4601 or email rsell@ephrata.org).

The measure was approved by council members Phil Borck, Kathleen Harris, Valli Millard, James Mathis, and Mike Warren. Two other members, Beau Lamens and Matt Moore, had excused absences.

In other business during last Wednesday’s meeting, the council:­­

—    Heard a presentation from Grant County Health District administrator Theresa Adkinson, who outlined the district’s various services and activities, spoke of recent federal and state funding cuts to public health districts statewide, and made an annual funding request from the city equivalent to $3 per resident based on overall population.

Ephrata is among the majority of Grant County’s 14 cities and towns which have traditionally provided up to $3 per person in recent years as additional discretionary revenue to the health district, which Adkinson said is greatly appreciated. The request comes in advance of both the city and health district’s budget planning processes for 2027.

—    Received an update from Ephrata librarian Aaron Loeffelbein and Danielle Durr, area manager for NCW Libraries, regarding a major interior remodeling project which began Aug. 10.  The city owns the building, a former fire hall located on North Alder Street, while the regional library sytem pays for “everything inside” include staff, materials, technology, programs, and services.  

Loeffelbein said a reduced-size “pop-up” library will be available to the public in early September, but will eventually close at a later unspecified date to allow completion of the $631,000 renovation, which is expected sometime in the first quarter of 2027.

—    Approved a resolution requested by police chief Erik Koch for the city to contract with Tow Pros LLC, an Ephrata-based vehicle towing company, for years 2026-28.

Koch said the police department has previously rotated its calls for tow and impound services among several area firms. But he said the voluntary rotation has led to reluctance by some haulers in the removal of hulk or abandoned vehicles which have little or no value, and in the return or disposal of impounded vehicles once police have completed warranted evidentiary searches.

Koch said the contract with Tow Pros addresses those issues at no cost to the city because the company, as the primary hauler, anticipates an increased volume of tows and revenue paid by vehicle owners. A provision still allows police to call another hauler in instances when multiple tows are needed, he said.

—    Held a brief ceremony in recognition of Ephrata police officer Rickey Barquet’s graduation from Washington state’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy and recent completion of field training with the local department. “Which is a big deal for a new officer,” said police chief Koch. Mayor Steve Oliver administered the oath of office to Barquet, whose badge was pinned on by his grandfather, Leonard Scheerer of Quincy. Other family members and fellow officers were in attendance. Barquet grew up in Federal Way, attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, and has prior work experience as a bouncer, adult caregiver, and in the automotive industry. Koch said Barquet subsequently decided to pursue public service and a career in law enforcement.