Mapleton revamps its sign ordinance

MAPLETON, Utah County — An ordinance that was on the books, but never enforced, according to city officials, was revamped this week after the Mapleton City Council agreed to pay $9,000 in attorney fees in a First Amendment federal lawsuit settlement.

The ordinance that banned political signs on private property except during specific times before and after an election is history. The council action also ended restrictions on other signs, including real estate and garage sale signs. The city no longer manages the content of signs, Mayor Brian Wall said.

"All signs are treated the same," he said, citing a Planning Commission recommendation.

Salt Lake City attorney Brian Barnard sued the city on behalf of an anonymous client known only as "C. Johnson," alleging the political sign ordinance was unconstitutional.

The city was also instructed to warn other Utah County cities about the lawsuit to prevent them from also being sued if their sign ordinances violated First Amendment rights.

However, Barnard is reportedly representing a Draper woman in a similar lawsuit. Heather Rice complained that the sign ordinance in that city violated her right of free speech. Barnard filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court Tuesday on her behalf, seeking a temporary restraining order to keep city employees from enforcing the rules.