The overall purpose of this chapter is to enhance and maintain the aesthetic character, to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, and to increase the effectiveness of visual communication in the city. This chapter is also intended to avoid visual clutter that may adversely impact traffic and pedestrian safety, or be adverse to property values, business opportunities and the city’s appearance and to prevent and abate public nuisances. The purpose of this chapter is implemented by controlling the construction, location, use and maintenance of all signs and sign structures. It is also the intent of this chapter to afford noncommercial speech the same or greater protection afforded commercial speech and to not regulate noncommercial speech to a stricter standard than commercial speech. (Ord. 6591 § 2, 2016; Ord. 6501 § 2, 2014; Ord. 5993 § 1, 2006; Ord. 4773 § 1, 1995; Ord. 4229 § 2, 1987.)