Pendleton Mayor John Turner tells Chad Miltenberger that he's done commenting during a joint meeting Oct. 22, 2024, of the Pendleton City Council and Planning Commission.

PENDLETON — Pendleton city leaders met Tuesday night, Oct. 22, to learn about proposals to change the sign ordinances in the historic downtown district — a meeting that turned tense during public comment.

The Pendleton City Council and the city’s Planning Commission held a joint meeting in the council chambers to see a presentation from the Historic Preservation Commission, which falls under the Planning Commission, on proposed changes to the rules for historical signs, Ordinance 4017.

Toward the meeting’s end, Mayor John Turner and local businessman Chad Miltenberger argued over the latter’s objections to the proposed changes.

The goal of the meeting was to educate the leaders on the subcommittee’s recommendations.

Setting new standards

Before the tense interaction, City Planner Julie Chase presented an overview of the changes.

“We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t trying to preserve our beloved Main Street buildings or registered buildings,” Chase said. “This area of town has some memorability, has some attachment, for everyone in the downtown.”

One of the main proposals is a curfew on lighted signs, which will have to dim or turn off at 11 p.m. or 30 minutes after a business closes. The goal is to create a better nighttime environment for residents who live in the historic district, as signs now can stay on at all times. Compliance would be required for all businesses starting January 2027.

The Historic Preservation Commission also proposes a new set of criteria for murals in the historic district. New murals would have to honor the area’s history through the color palette, theme and components. Existing murals would be grandfathered in, said City Manager Robb Corbett, even if they don’t meet the new requirements.

City Councilor Sally Brandsen said she hopes the Historic Preservation Commission will partner with the Art Commission in reviewing murals so there will be balance between historical references and artistic creativity and progress.

“I think that would be a unique and important collaboration that would put our best foot forward,” she said after the meeting.

Conflict over sign ordinance process

Another change is that signs would have to comply with new standards, such as no inflatable signs or electronic message signs. However, there are conditional uses that allow for electronic signs, including location — off Main Street on newer buildings — or type of business, such as a cinema, for example.

“Main Streets are the heart of the town, especially Pendleton,” said HPC member Shannon Gruenhagen. “This is just another step forward to bring more tourism, more money to our small businesses and to keep Pendleton that vital community that everyone talks about.”

Gruenhagen said the Historic Preservation Commission compromised on parts of its proposal based on feedback from businesses such as Sign Men, the Pendleton-based sign making company.

However, Miltenberger, who runs Sign Men with his father, said during public comment that his input had not been taken into consideration as much as he’d like.

“Obviously, this has been a long process and I have given my thoughts and they have been heard for some matters,” he said. “However, some of this process has been hard to follow and has been highly unethical.”

He said that at some HPC meetings, when there should have been a portion for public comment, he was told it was a workshop and there was not an opportunity to offer his feedback.

During the Oct. 22 meeting, he said a representative from the International Sign Association had reviewed the proposed changes and found some of them to be “in direct conflict with some Supreme Court decisions.” Miltenberger said he wanted the council and commission to consider these new objections.

“We’re talking about something that will affect a lot of people in the commerce and the well-being of our town,” he said, “and if you don’t have any consideration for this, I don’t know what you have consideration for.”

Turner disagrees on complaint

Mayor Turner said Miltenberger has been involved in the process for months, and took offense to the issues being raised so late in the process. Additionally, he told Miltenberger, “I’m attacking your credibility.”

After some back-and-forth arguing, Corbett interrupted and said it would be worthwhile to have city attorney Nancy Kerns review Miltenberger’s materials. Turner acquiesced.

“I reject your accusation that you’ve been excluded from the conversation,” he then told Miltenberger, “and with that, you’re done.”

On Oct. 23, Turner said he stood by what he said during the meeting.

“We’ve been working on this for months and he comes in with this claim that we’re violating some Supreme Court ordinance or Supreme Court ruling two hours before the meeting,” Turner said. “(It) just violates the whole principle of trying to work with people.”

Turner also said he supports the proposal.

The Pendleton Planning Commission heard presentation on Oct. 24. Chase said the commission voted unanimously in favor, and it should go before the city council on Nov. 19 with a recommendation to pass.

Editor’s Note

This report was updated with the outcome of the Pendleton Planning Commission meeting of Oct. 24.