Politics & Government

Arnold Businesses Face $65 A-frame Sign Fee

Arnold councilmen, with the help of the city attorney, negotiated a lower registration fee to help local businesses.

Arnold city councilmen negotiated a lower annual sign fee, to $65, for Arnold business owners, during the city council meeting at , 2101 Jeffco Blvd., on Thursday.

The inital registration fee was $120.

“I think $120 is very excessive for this type of sign,” Ward 1 Councilman Doris Borgelt said. 

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City Administrator Matt Unrein said about $55 of the fee paid for taking, reviewing and approving the sign.

“The rest of the fee is to inspect and re-inspect the sign and its placement,” Unrein said.

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A-Frame signs must be placed with 10-feet of the owner's business entrance, said documents on Arnold City Hall website.

A portion of the fee pays for traveling to and investigating alleged violators, said Community Development Director Mary Holden.

Arnold City Attorney Bob Sweeney said the city must make inspections to assure that business comply with the American Disabilities Act.

The city risks a lawsuit if it ignores that business owners could place A-frame signs to obstruct a disabled person’s path on a sidewalk, Sweeney said.

Sweeney said the $120 fee is speculative because the city lacks the historical evidence regarding A-frame signs. 

A $65 registration fee assumed that no violations, which require inspections, occurred during the fiscal 2011-12 year, Sweeney said.

The fee could increase if the city’s learns that business repeatedly violate the ordinance, Sweeney said.

The Arnold City Council voted 7-0 to approve the $65 A-frame sign registration fee.


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