The Lebanon City Council voted unanimously during a special-called meeting to adopt amendments to Title 14 affecting signs and lighting, approve new rules for specialty smoke and vape shops, adopt a pedestrian priorities plan and approve three consent-contract items.

Council action included second readings and final approvals for amendments to the sign code and for regulations aimed at specialty smoke and vape shops. Councilors said the changes are intended to limit public‑facing neon and LED lighting and to clarify standards in the city sign code. Councilor Camille Burdine introduced the vape-shop regulations; Councilor Carmack moved several motions for second readings and final approval.

The ordinance changing Title 14’s sign and lighting provisions (identified in the meeting record as Title 14, chapter 8, section 9, and chapter 8, section 13) was discussed briefly. City staff and legal counsel said enforcement will focus on signs and lights that face public right-of-way. A member of staff identified in the transcript as legal counsel said, “I can’t tell you that a sign would never be grandfathered in,” and explained that court decisions the city has reviewed have found grandfathering only in limited circumstances (off-premise signs, billboards and certain directional signs) and that there is no clear case law about illuminated signs inside business windows. Councilors asked whether internally framed LED accent lights around doors and windows common on some West Main businesses would be affected; staff replied the ordinance is written to cover neon or LED lights facing the public or a public right-of-way.

Councilors and staff said the city will notify affected businesses and perform site visits as part of enforcement. Staff indicated letters and in-person compliance visits are planned; the transcript indicates staff will pursue enforcement where legally permitted, and that voluntary removal of a nonconforming sign can change the legal posture (for example, a business that voluntarily removes a sign and later tries to reinstall it may face denial).

The council also approved regulations for specialty smoke and vape shops (two agenda entries for Title 14 amendments were handled in the meeting, including an amendment and final ordinance adoption). Councilors voted in favor with no recorded opposition.

On non-ordinance items, the council adopted the city’s pedestrian priorities plan (second reading and final adoption) and approved a consent agenda with three items: a contract award for roof replacement on the old terminal building and attached hangar at the municipal airport; creation of budget line items in a fund for a project bond (referred to in the agenda as Sam’s project bond for FY 2024–25); and a contract award/contract for water tank maintenance, cleaning and demolition plus related construction engineering inspection services and budget amendments. Those consent items were approved as presented by staff.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (roof replacement contract, project-bond budget line-item creation, water tank maintenance contract and related engineering services): motion approved (motion and second recorded); vote: unanimous (all present councilors voted aye). Notes: budget amendment details and contract amounts not specified in the transcript.

- Pedestrian priorities plan (final adoption): motion approved (motion and second recorded); vote: unanimous.

- Amendment to Title 14 — sign code and special lighting (Title 14, chap. 8, sec. 9 and sec. 13): motion to approve the amended ordinance approved (motion and second recorded); vote: unanimous.

- Regulations for specialty smoke and vape shops (Title 14 amendments): motions to approve the amendment and the ordinance as amended approved (motions and seconds recorded); vote: unanimous.

Discussion and next steps

Councilors raised enforcement and compliance questions, particularly about LED accent lighting on business façades. Legal staff and sign-enforcement staff advised councilors that some categories of signs have been grandfathered in prior court cases (primarily off-premise signs and billboards) but that there is limited case law on internally mounted illuminated window signs. Staff said they will send letters to businesses and conduct visits as part of enforcement, and that a business that voluntarily removes a sign may have a different legal standing if it later requests to re-install the sign. Councilors asked about specific examples on West Main, including a 7-Eleven and other recent large signs; staff said those predated the new monument-style sign policy and explained the city cannot always force removal of preexisting signs absent legal grounds.

The meeting concluded with unanimous approvals and immediate adjournment.