§ 88-18.204. Findings.

The board of supervisors finds as follows:

(a)

Billboards and other offsite commercial signs on vessels on waters within the jurisdiction of the county cause visual blight, are distracting, create significant safety hazards to pedestrians and motorists, and reduce the value of waters within the jurisdiction of the county as a public attraction, because billboards and other offsite commercial signs tend to be frequently changed, are specifically and primarily intended to attract the public's attention, and do not enhance the natural beauty or scenery of waters within the jurisdiction of the county.

(b)

Onsite commercial signs on vessels on waters within the jurisdiction of the county, including signs identifying commercial shipping, industrial harbor watercraft, and tourist, passenger, and fishing vessels, or their services, goods, or commodities, are much less distracting, cause much less visual blight, and create significantly fewer safety hazards to pedestrians, motorists and boaters than do billboards and other offsite commercial signs, because onsite commercial signs are not changed frequently and often are used primarily for identification rather than to attract the public's attention.

(c)

Recreational and competitive sailing on sailboats on waters with the jurisdiction of the county enhance the public's recreational use and enjoyment of waters within the jurisdiction of the county, and promote the economic vitality of the county. Offsite commercial signs displayed on the hulls or sails of sailboats on waters within the jurisdiction of the county, including signs relating to commercial sponsorship, do not cause visual blight or create significant safety hazards to pedestrians and motorists, because sailboats that display offsite commercial signs on their hulls or sails tend to do so only incidentally, remain aesthetically pleasing and thus enhance the natural beauty and scenery of waters within the jurisdiction of the county and promote recreational uses of those waters.

(d)

By adopting this ordinance, the board of supervisors does not intend to and is not regulating shipping or other activities on waters within the jurisdiction of the county to the extent that state or federal laws or regulations, including the Shipping Act of 1984 (46 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq)., preempt such regulation.

(Ord. 2001-23 § 2).