Santa Monica

After 10 years of controversy, the City Council has tentatively approved a sign ordinance.

Under a 1983 state law, however, many existing signs may be protected for the next 15 years and the city would be required to compensate owners who are forced to remove their signs.

The ordinance would regulate new and temporary signs and the dimensions of signs. Projecting and roof signs, animated signs, portable signs and some posters would be prohibited.

The council asked the staff to revise the ordinance to enable the city to preserve historic and aesthetic signs in the city.

Councilman David G. Epstein cast the lone opposing vote. “California is the land of the doggy diner, hot dog stands shaped like a hot dog or doughnut shops with big doughnuts on top of them,” Epstein said. “I’m not sure we should turn our backs on this.”