Political Sign Ordinance Repeal Tabled

Following an address to Mayor and Council by Howard Fredrics, Park Ridge Council voted 3-2 with 1 abstention to table the poltical sign ordinance repeal until after the November election. Voting to table was Councilmembers Mintz, Metzdorf, and Cozzi. Voting "No" on the motion to table was Councilmembers Fenwick and Hoffman, with Councilmember Goldsmith abstaining. Dr. Fredrics highlighted the fact that the addition of a permitting requirement raises constitutional issues, which interfere with the right to anonymity of political speech, as it would be difficult or impossible to require a permit to place political signs on public property, without identifying the permit holder to government officials. Council agreed that this represented a genuine issue of concern to be addressed.