Times-News

The Twin Falls City Council will hold a public hearing at6 p.m. tonight on the city's new sign ordinance, a 31-page document designed over two years to classify all types of signs within city limits.

City staff gave a lengthy presentation on the ordinance to the council last week. A vote is scheduled to follow the public hearing.

Officials hope the new sign ordinance will fix the current one that they say is incomplete and full of vague provisions difficult to enforce.

The code generally focuses on signs requiring permits and those that don't. Sign regulations affect most commercial properties, as every business in town would fall under at least one facet of the code.

The Twin Falls Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the council adopt the ordinance, but added more than a dozen amendments. The council can adopt, reject or change them.

Other council items:

• Consideration to offer free parking at the downtown parking meters on Nov. 28 and the five Saturdays through Dec. 27. The decision is to encourage shoppers to visit downtown during the holiday season, according to a staff report.

The city said an online survey of downtown merchants about providing free parking for multiple weeks found the merchants split, according to the report. But one merchant suggested free parking on Saturdays. The Historic Downtown Business Im-provement District voted unanimously Oct. 24 in support.

The city estimates a shortfall of $650 to $700, which is about a week's worth of meter revenue, the report said.

• Consideration of a request from Kimberly Nurseries to hold the 18th annual Christmas in the Nighttime Sky festivities on Nov. 28. The event will take place at Kimberly Nurseries and a fireworks display will be located in a vacant field north of Addison Avenue East, north of Kimberly Nurseries, according to a staff report.

• Consideration of a request to approve a contract with the Seagraves Family Foundation for a $75,000 grant for improvements at Drury Park.

City Council meetings are open to the public and begin at 5 p.m. at 305 Third Ave. E.