The City of Monterey Park has put a great deal of time, effort, and money into beautification of the downtown Garfield and Garvey Avenue business area in an effort to attract business and visitors to the area to shop and dine. However, residents, business owners, and City officials are not happy with the growing eyesore of handbills and signs advertising rooms for rent, transportation, and temporary housing for out of town visitors. There is further cost to the city to remove signs and repair damage to public property caused by nails and permanent glue used to post the signs.

The posting of signs on trees, light poles, and other public property is a violation of the Monterey Park Municipal Code.

MPMC 21.50.050: “It is unlawful for any person to post, print, stick, stamp, tack or otherwise affix, or cause the same to be done, any notice, placard, bill, card, poster, sticker, banner, sign, advertising or other device calculated to attract the attention of the public or upon or over any street right-of-way, public sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, hydrant, tree, fence, except as provided herein. No sign shall be placed or maintained upon any lamppost, telephone or lighting system, utility pole or any fixture of the police or fire alarm system.”

In an effort to warn individuals who were posting signs, City personnel removed signs and contacted individuals at the phone numbers listed on the signs. However, this has not stopped the activity. Police personnel will now have a “zero tolerance” policy regarding this issue and citations will be issued to individuals observed posting signs on public property within the City limits.