Mapleton, Cedar Hills to review sign ordinances

MAPLETON, Utah County — City leaders plan to revisit their political sign ordinance after a "C. Johnson" prevailed in a lawsuit challenging free speech aspects of the city law.

The planning commission will review it on Aug. 12, then it will go to the City Council on Aug. 17, City Administrator Bob Bradshaw said Monday.

However, some aspects of the case are still unclear.

"Who the heck is C. Johnson?" Bradshaw asked. Attorney Brian Barnard is keeping his client's identity secret.

Last week a federal judge considered issuing a temporary restraining order against the city, which would allow the client to post his signs. However, the city agreed it wouldn't enforce the ordinance.

"Mapleton has never attempted to enforce the ordinance as accused," said City Attorney Eric Johnson.

"All I want is that ordinance off the books," Barnard said. "If they enact a new ordinance, that's great. If not … I'll sue them."

Barnard filed the lawsuit, claiming an ordinance limiting when political signs may be displayed violates the First Amendment. The ordinance restricts anyone from putting up signs until one day after the filing period ends or a proposition is certified. Signs must be removed five days after an election. Violators face up to 90 days in jail and/or a $750 fine.

Barnard said he has also sent a warning letter to Cedar Hills after a resident contacted him about that city's political sign ordinance. "That one is more onerous than Mapleton's ordinance," he said.

Eric Johnson is also city attorney for Cedar Hills and that city's planning commission will also review its sign ordinance, he said.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com