City upholds sign law

Chris Green appeared before the City Council June 18 to appeal what he says is an unfair sign ordinance. Green owns SeaGreen Center, 911 Gulf Breeze Parkway, housing Billy Bob's Beach Barbecue and Re/Max on the Coast. The City of Gulf Breeze sent Green a letter of non-compliance concerning the flashing, colored animation on his electronic reader board sign. An ordinance passed by city council prohibits the use of flashing and animated graphics on reader boards.

Green argued that his sign was already in use when the city council passed the ordinance and that his reader board should be "grand fathered" into compliance.

Council members said flashing signs are a distraction and pose a safety risk to drivers. They voted to enforce their ordinance, which could require Green to pay as much as $50 per day for non-compliance.