AUGUST 21, 2024:
The Pierre City Commission has passed (Aug. 20, 2024) two ordinance changes regarding political sign displays.
The first change aligns the local ordinance with state law; the second change makes political sign rules the same within city limits and within the city’s extraterritorial area. The changes had to be made because of a new state law.
City Planner Emeline (emma-line) Post says the updated ordinance language adds about a month to the amount of time political signs can be displayed. She says for the Nov. 2024 general election, political signs can be displayed starting Sept. 10.
Pierre city commissioners also approved Ordinance 1868, which applies the same political sign timeline changes in extraterritorial areas as Ordinance 1867 applies to areas within city limits. Because the city and Hughes County have joint jurisdiction in the extraterritorial areas, a second reading and public hearing were held at the Joint City/County Commission meeting Aug. 19.
Post says the modifications are designed to provide consistency and limit confusion on political sign rules in and around Pierre. She says the second change also adds about 30 days to the amount of time political signs can be displayed in extraterritorial areas.
Both ordinances will be effective for the November election.
AUGUST 8, 2024:
The Pierre City Commission has taken the first steps in updating the political sign ordinances that apply within city limits and in the town’s extraterritorial area.
City Planner Emeline Post says the recommended ordinance change updates local timelines to be in compliance with a new state law passed during the 2024 legislative session.
The new state law doesn’t apply in extraterritorial areas, but for the sake of consistency, Post recommends that that ordinance be updated so it mirrors the one governing city limits. Because the city and Hughes County have joint jurisdiction in the extraterritorial areas, the Hughes County Commission has also given a first reading to the required changes.
The current ordinance in Pierre allows signs to be displayed up to 30 days before an election, but the change adds nearly a month to that timeline.
Mayor Steve Harding prefers the current timeline for political signs, but he says Pierre and Hughes County need to make the required updates.
City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga suspects Pierre’s political sign ordinances may have been the prompt to create the new statewide regulations.
A second reading and public hearing will be held at the joint city/county commission meeting Aug. 19, 2024. The City Commission will hold a public hearing for the recommended change at their Aug. 20 meeting.
WRITTEN VERSION:
At the Aug. 6, 2024, meeting, the Pierre City Commission took first reading of two ordinance changes regarding political sign displays. The first recommendation aligns the local ordinance with state law; the second recommended change makes political sign rules the same within city limits and within the city’s extraterritorial area.
“In 2024, the state legislature passed HB 1069. It dictates municipalities allow political signs to be displayed at least ten days before absentee voting begins,” said Emeline Post, City Planner. “The recommended ordinance change updates local timelines to be in agreement with the new state law.”
Post further explained the change allows political signs to be displayed for a longer amount of time.
“Current ordinance allows signs to be displayed up to 30 days before an election; the change adds nearly a month to that timeline.”
The City Commission will hold a public hearing for the recommended change at their Aug. 20 meeting.
The commission also heard a recommendation to mirror that same timeline change in the city’s extraterritorial area.
“State law doesn’t dictate we make the change in extraterritorial areas, but for the sake of consistency, staff recommends we do,” said Post. “We expect it’ll cut down on confusion.”
Because the city and county have joint jurisdiction in the extraterritorial areas, the Hughes County Commission will also need to consider the action. A second reading and public hearing will be held at the Joint City/County Commission meeting August 19.
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