DAPHNE, Ala.—The city’s sign ordinance limits the signage a business within the city limits can have, but in recent years the Daphne City Council has approved an exemption in the summer months to bolster the local economy.

Mayor Fred Small introduced a request to expand the time the exception is in place to include every weekend from April through October. In previous years, the exception applied to every weekend of each month of the summer. 

“For the past couple of years here in the summer, we have gone through and we have extended our promotional weekends — that are usually the last weekend of the month — to allow all the retailers in town to take advantage of that every weekend,” Small said.

Councilman August Palumbo expressed concern over extending the exception.

“If you suspend anything from April to October, that is the majority of the year — what is the purpose of having the ordinance in place in the first place?” Palumbo said.

Daphne resident Ben Cruitt called the sign ordinance one of the worst practices in Daphne.

“This is the most detrimental thing that we have in the city of Daphne for the businesses. You are running people out, not bringing them in,” Cruitt said.

Council President Cathy Barnette recommended that the matter be sent to a work session before approval.