The Honorable Mayor Bryan Baptiste
4444 Rice Street
Suite 235
Lihue , Hawaii 96766

Dear Mayor Baptiste,

The purpose of this letter is to follow up on our meeting of February 7, 2007, regarding implementation of the sign ordinance. At that meeting, The Kauai Outdoor Circle committed to assist the County in reporting possible violations. We also committed to producing a revised sign ordinance brochure that would be available to the public. For your part, you agreed to hire a person within the building Department, who would be responsible for enforcement of the existing sign ordinance.

The Kauai Outdoor Circle has accomplished both of their tasks. We have even sent pictures and a CD of numerous possible violations to Don Lutao. Unfortunatally, there has been no enforcement from the County. In fact, the number of alleged illegal signs, particularly sandwich board signs (Sec.15-4.4 Prohibited Signs), has increased dramatically. Out of all the sign violations we have reported over the last eight months, only one sign has been removed. It appears we are going backward rather than forward.

Although not in violation of the State prohibition of billboards, the rows of banners on fences along our roads violate the spirit of the prohibition. These banners are not on the owner’s property and many are commercial in nature. Also, from time to time, religious signs are being placed on county fences and parks in violation of federal law and could implicate the County. Many of these signs require a permit and payment to the County (Sec. 15-4.5).

Last December you were quoted in both the Honolulu Advertiser and The Garden Island as committing to begin enforcement of the sign ordinance within the next two months. Please let me know what your plans are regarding this matter. The Kauai Outdoor Circle is here to help, however, enforcement must come from the County. We suggest a press release would be helpful reminding the public that both temporary and permanent signs require a permit and that without a permit they are liable to be fined.

This letter, along with your response, will be posted on our website at kauaioutdoorcircle.org so that all 2500 members of The Outdoor Circle will know that Kauai is really taking action to facilitate enforcement of the sign ordinance.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Respectfully,

Maureen Murphy

President,
The Kauai Outdoor Circle