Joliet City Council Votes Against Rope Light Restrictions

Earlier this week, Joliet City Council blocked a proposal that would limit rope lighting.

The plan to restrict these lights, commonly used in shop windows to attract attention, was among three proposals put forward in June to be struck down. The ordinance was voted down 5-2 by the city council last week. However, the council did approve a temporary prohibition on LED signs while staff works on regulations that would control how bright such items are permitted to be.

"Why are we doing this?" Councilman Larry Hug asked when the ordinance was proposed to the city council for a vote.

"Because the place is beginning to look like a carnival," responded Councilwoman Jan Quillman, one of only two advocates of the ordinance.

City staff explained that the proposal was modeled after similar ordinances in place in surrounding areas. The ordinance would have allowed rope light only during specific times of the year, such as the Halloween and Christmas seasons as part of festive decorations.

"This is very common in neighboring communities," Interim City Attorney Chris Regis said.

However, council members rebutted saying that it would be bad for businesses as the rope lights are commonly used in small local businesses.

"We don't want to handicap our businesses. It's tough enough out there," Hug said.

Quillman and Terry Morris, chairman of the Land Use and Legislative Committee that pushed for approval of the proposal were the only two members of the city council to vote in favor of the ordinance.

Quillman was also an advocate of another recently struck-down proposal that would ban bouncy houses from front lawns, stating that they were often left out for too long and were unsightly in the neighborhood.

Conversely, the other council members did not see a problem with the bouncy houses.

It is still to be determined if the council will place any restrictions on LED signs.

"We're looking at brightness – some sort of limitation or control," Jackson said. "Even at night, I think there is the ability to not have them be so glaring."