Poway confiscates Patapow recall signs

Poway employees scooped up eight campaign signs in support of recalling Poway Unified School District board member Andy Patapow within hours of them being posted around Old Poway Park.

City Engineer Steve Crosby said most — but not all — of the signs violated the city’s current sign ordinance because they were placed too close to city-owned property. The signs were picked up Friday afternoon, before the next day’s hugely popular Christmas in the Park, which drew thousands of residents to the city park.

Crosby said he wasn’t sure exactly why the signs that did not violate the current code were included in the roundup.

On Tuesday night the City Council put its final stamp of approval on a revised ordinance that will prohibit signs being placed along right-of-ways, as well as next to city owned land. The new law also reduces the allowed size of signs posted in private yards. The update ordinance goes into effect on Jan. 15.

Keith Wilson, a recall leader, said he planned to retrieve the signs from the city on Wednesday.