Revised July 23, 2024
If you shy away from checking ordinances (city laws) because they are too complicated, you are not alone. Keep reading. The Shorewood sign ordinance was on the May 13 Shorewood meeting agenda. Part of the discussion at that meeting focused on concern from Council members Sanschagrin and Zerby that the ordinance was difficult for residents to understand. SCA wrote about it, saying:
“The sign ordinance, which residents are expected to follow, is cryptic, confusing and complex. Its current format allows for subjective interpretation by city staff workers, leaving the residents at their mercy. The City has indicated it is unwilling to make the ordinance more understandable to the layperson.”
The city staff pushed back on the council members’ suggestions for simplification, not willing to make changes in the way ordinances are written.
Excelsior, on the other hand, just passed an emergency ordinance regarding e-bikes. What makes the ordinance stand out is the “preamble” which explains the context and purpose of the ordinance in lay terms. It reads in part:
[Preamble]. “The city council of Excelsior finds that the increasing popularity of Electric-assisted bicycles has created a threat to riders of such vehicles as well as to pedestrians and others that are in the vicinity of their use. The council further finds that it is necessary to adopt regulations regarding the use of such electric-assisted bicycles in order to protect public health, safety, and welfare. Since the normal course of legislation will not make these regulations effective until much of the summer has expired, the city council has determined that it is necessary to make these regulations effective as soon as possible.”
Excelsior has proven that this simple addition to an ordinance is not impossible to do, improving the reader’s understanding of the document.
