A. No sign shall be allowed that is placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, electrolier, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface located on public property or over or across any street or public thoroughfare except as may otherwise expressly be authorized by this chapter.
B. Any sign found placed, posted, or otherwise affixed upon any public or utility property contrary to the provisions of this section or Section 15.148.660 of this chapter may be removed by any company, utility, organization, or individual owning or responsible for maintaining that property, or by the city. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 15.148.820 of this chapter, no advance notice or hearing shall be required. The person responsible for any such illegal placement, posting, or affixing shall be liable for the costs incurred in the removal thereof, and the revenue manager is authorized to effect the collection of any removal costs incurred by the city. Any such sign may be disposed of in any manner deemed appropriate by the person who removes it.
C. For purposes of this section, the following persons are responsible for placing a sign and to pay removal costs:
1. The person whose name, telephone number or address appears as the sponsor or promoter of a concert, dance, sporting event, theatrical performance, or similar activity or event referred to on the sign;
2. The person whose name, telephone number or address appears as the person to contact on the sign;
3. The owner, or lessee if the property is leased, of property used for a commercial activity or event advertised on the sign;
4. The promoter or sponsor of any activity or event to which the sign refers;
5. The candidate named on a sign which promotes a candidate for public office;
6. The real estate broker, agent, brokerage firm or other person whose name or telephone number appears on a sign advertising property for sale, lease or rent;
7. The owner, or lessee if the property is leased, of property used for a yard or garage sale advertised on the sign.
Any person responsible to pay removal costs may avoid such liability by demonstrating that he or she did not cause, authorize, permit, encourage, direct, recommend, or approve the posting of the sign on public or utility property. (Ord. 2016-0010 § 29; prior code § 3.08.152)