Chad Miltenberger with Sign Men, of Pendleton, critiques the process of creating a new city sign ordinance Oct. 22, 2024, during a joint meeting of the Pendleton City Council and Planning Commission.

PENDLETON — More than 100 Pendleton residents have signed a petition opposing the city plan to change the downtown sign code.

The Pendleton City Council at its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 19, holds a public hearing on the adopting Ordinance 4017, which would repeal the city’s current sign code and outline appropriate and inappropriate signs in the city’s historic district. The city council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at Pendleton City Hall, 500 SW Dorion Ave. The meeting is open to the public, which also can attend via Zoom (meeting ID is 829 4123 4124 and the pass code is 810306).

The city staff report on the side code changes includes the petition that 104 community members signed to oppose changes to the ordinance and reserve the right to appeal decisions that could result.

The city council and the city’s Planning Commission held a joint meeting Oct. 22 to see a presentation from the Historic Preservation Commission on the proposal that would ban electronic variable message boards and certain murals for the historic downtown district.

The East Oregonian reported Mayor John Turner and local businessman Chad Miltenberger, manager of SignMen, argued over the proposal.

During the Oct. 22 meeting, Miltenberger said a representative from the International Sign Association had reviewed the what the Historic Preservation Commission wants and found some of them to be “in direct conflict with some Supreme Court decisions.” Miltenberger said he wanted the council and commission to consider the objections.

The Pendleton Planning Commission on Oct. 24 voted unanimously in favor of the new local sign code with a recommendation for the council to pass it as well.

The meeting Nov. 19 includes time for public comment.