Broken Arrow Planning Commission
Meeting of: 10-22-2026
Title:
title
Consideration, discussion, and possible action to preview and refer to the Planning Commission a proposed ordinance amending Chapter 5, Signs, of the City of Broken Arrow Zoning Ordinance; renumbering and amending Section 5.10, Light Pole Banners and Decorations, as Section 5-1-8; allowing limited exceptions for promotional banners for Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow and The Venu Amphitheater on City-owned light poles within Events Park; repealing conflicting ordinances; and declaring an emergency.
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Background:
In September 2019, after the City had received a request by the Military History Center (“Center”) to place banners honoring veterans on City of Broken Arrow light poles equipped with banner brackets, the Council adopted Ordinance No. 3603 amending the Zoning Code as referenced. The staff researched the law regarding placing city-owned banners on light poles and determined the City did not have a written policy governing the use of the banner brackets. However, the light poles may be considered a limited public forum for promoting downtown events and generally promoting economic development in the City. The United States Supreme Court allows a City to restrict speech in a limited public forum to certain topics.
On June 20, 2019, the City Council held a working group to discuss how the Council would like to go forward in regulating the use of City owned light poles, considering two different approaches to addressing the request. The first limited the use of donated banners and flags on the City owned light poles to City recognized holidays. The second authorized the acceptance of banners and flags for display on the City owned light poles for all public events and activities.
At the August 20, 2019, City Council meeting, the Council directed staff to draft and present an ordinance restricting the use of light poles to display donated banners, or any other City owned or controlled banners that promote or celebrate City recognized holidays. The ordinance also prohibits commercial banners or decoration to be displayed on City light poles. The ordinance also provided procedures for the City to process such applications. On September 3, 2019, the Council adopted the Ordinance and authorized the codification thereof. This proposed amendment corrects the numbering of the Section to 5-1-8 and adds an exception to the prohibition on commercial banners for the limited purpose of allowing NSU-BA and The Venu Amphitheater to apply to utilize banners on City light poles located at the Events Park.
Because the proposed ordinance amends the text of the City’s Zoning Ordinance, the amendment will be submitted to the Planning Commission for preview, approval, and recommendation before returning to City Council for a public hearing and consideration of adoption. The action requested at this meeting is limited to previewing the proposed ordinance and referring the amendment to the Planning Commission. Preview and referral do not constitute adoption of the ordinance or authorize the display of banners under the proposed exception.
Cost: No Cost
Funding Source: No Source
Requested By: Trevor Dennis, City Attorney
Approved By: City Manager’s Office
Attachments: Preview Ordinance
Recommendation:
recommend
Preview the ordinance and refer the proposed zoning text amendment to the Planning Commission for a properly noticed public hearing and recommendation before returning to City Council for a public hearing and consideration of adoption.
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