06/02/2026
This is the proposal we sent to the alders today, that is one of two issues with our pending contract:
CITY IS PROPOSING THIS: 3.1.1.1 5K EVENTS shall not erect, display, place, or permit to be placed any commercial banners, sponsorship signage, advertising devices, or promotional announcements of any third-party business, entity, or product on Racine Civic Centre, including, without limitation, facades, windows, doors, or adjacent structures, without the prior written consent of the Racine Common Council.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, signs or banners may be displayed in association with the advertisement of an event.
Suggested Counter-Proposal for Clause 3.1.1.1:
"3.1.1.1 5K EVENTS shall not erect, display, place, or permit to be placed any permanent commercial banners, sponsorship signage, advertising devices, or promotional announcements of any third-party business, entity, or product on Racine Civic Centre, including, without limitation, facades, windows, doors, or adjacent structures, without the prior written consent of the Racine Common Council.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, 5K EVENTS may, without prior Common Council consent, erect and display temporary signs, banners, and third-party sponsorship signage provided they meet one of the following criteria:
(a) The signage is strictly associated with the advertisement, financial support, or operation of a specific scheduled event and is removed within 48 hours of the event's conclusion; or
(b) The signage recognizes designated "Seasonal Event Subsidy Sponsors" and is displayed exclusively during the active outdoor event season (May 1 through October 31), after which it must be removed for the off-season."
WE ARE PROPOSING THIS: Requiring the Common Council to approve temporary, 48-hour event banners at Festival Hall is the equivalent of the State Legislature demanding a vote on every sponsor banner hung at the Wisconsin State Fair, or the Milwaukee City Council micromanaging Summerfest's stage signs. It is an unnecessary administrative bottleneck. Major Wisconsin venues survive on sponsorship revenue, and they all achieve this by delegating temporary signage authority directly to the contracted Venue Manager. This ordinance simply brings Racine's Civic Centers up to the standard operational baseline used by every other successful venue in the state.
The proposed ordinance aligns perfectly with the standard operating procedures of major event venues across Wisconsin. The core principle it establishes—delegating temporary event signage approval to the contracted venue management rather than requiring constant legislative oversight—is the exact model used by the state's largest and most successful facilities.
Here is how our proposed ordinance directly mirrors the operations of other major Wisconsin venues:
1. Wisconsin State Fair Park (West Allis)
The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a prime example of why venue managers, not legislative bodies, must control signage. According to their official Facility Guidelines, all temporary signs, banners, and third-party sponsored advertising must be approved in writing by the "Licensor" (the State Fair Park venue management).
Executive Approval: Their rules explicitly state that any sponsored signage hanging in public areas must receive prior approval specifically from the "Director of Event Services or CEO"—not the state legislature or a municipal council.
Operational Control: The venue management retains the exclusive right to approve the size, copy, and location of the banners. Our proposed ordinance requests this exact same level of operational control for 5Kevents as the Venue Manager.
2. Summerfest / Henry Maier Festival Park (Milwaukee)
Summerfest is operated by Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (a non-profit organization managing the city-owned park). The City of Milwaukee does not micromanage their temporary event signage. Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. has the autonomous authority to solicit corporate sponsorships, hang stage banners, and wrap perimeter fencing with sponsor logos for the duration of the festival. If they had to petition the Milwaukee Common Council for every single sponsor banner, the festival's business model would collapse under the administrative burden.
3. Racine County Fair & Local Agricultural Societies
County fairs across Wisconsin, including the Racine County Fair, operate on county-owned land but are managed by dedicated Fair Boards or Agricultural Societies. These boards have the absolute authority to sell, place, and regulate temporary sponsor banners on grandstands, stages, and perimeter fences during the fair's duration. They do not require weekly zoning variances or county board votes to acknowledge their sponsors.
4. Horlick Field (Racine)
While Horlick Field is a city park, when it is reserved for major organized use (such as Racine Raiders games), the operational logistics are largely dictated by the event organizers within the bounds of their reservation. The organizers do not need to seek a Common Council vote every time they place temporary directional signage or game-day sponsor banners within the stadium.
Proposed Ordinance:
Temporary Event Signage and Sponsorship Banners at Municipal Venues
SECTION 1. PURPOSE AND INTENT
The purpose of this ordinance is to establish clear, industry-standard guidelines for the display of temporary event signage and sponsorship banners at municipal event venues (including Festival Hall, Memorial Hall, and Rotary Park). This policy is designed to ensure the financial viability of community events through necessary sponsorship revenue, maintain public safety, and streamline operations by delegating routine signage approval to the contracted Venue Manager, mirroring the operational standards of large-scale regional venues.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
Venue Manager: The entity or organization formally contracted by the City to manage, operate, and oversee daily bookings at the municipal facility.
Temporary Event Signage: Any banner, flag, directional sign, or display installed for the specific duration of an approved, scheduled event.
Sponsorship Banner: A temporary sign acknowledging the financial or in-kind support of a person, business, or organization for a specific event or series of events.
SECTION 3. AUTHORITY AND APPROVAL
Delegation of Authority: The Common Council delegates the authority to review and approve all Temporary Event Signage and Sponsorship Banners strictly to the contracted Venue Manager.
Exemption from Weekly Council Review: Provided the signage complies with the safety, duration, and park code standards outlined in this ordinance, individual temporary signs and banners shall not require placement on the Common Council or specific committee agendas for approval.
SECTION 4. PERMITTED SIGNAGE AND LOCATIONS
During the contracted rental period of an event, the following temporary signage is permitted without requiring special municipal permits:
Stage Banners: Suspended above, behind, or affixed to temporary or permanent stages, provided they are rigged by qualified personnel and do not exceed the structural weight limits of the trussing.
Perimeter Fencing: Affixed to temporary or permanent perimeter fencing (e.g., Rotary Park fencing) directed inward toward event attendees or outward to acknowledge event sponsors.
Directional and Operational Signage: Free-standing A-frames, staked signs, or weighted stanchions necessary for crowd control, parking direction, ticketing, and vendor identification.
Facility Exteriors: Temporary banners may be affixed to designated anchor points on the exterior of Festival Hall or Memorial Hall during the specific dates of the event.
SECTION 5. ALIGNMENT WITH RACINE PARK RULES (CHAPTER 70)
All temporary signage must be installed and managed in strict compliance with the City of Racine Code of Ordinances, Chapter 70 (Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services).
Protection of Property (Sec. 70-77): Signage must be installed using non-destructive methods. The Venue Manager and the respective event promoter are solely responsible for ensuring that installation methods (e.g., zip ties, specialized tape, tension cords) do not cause injury or damage to municipal park property, trees, or permanent structures. No temporary signage shall be painted directly onto municipal property, nor shall it be attached using nails, screws, or bolts.
Solid Waste Prevention (Sec. 70-92): All temporary signage, zip-ties, and fastening materials must be completely removed by the end of the 48-hour post-event window to prevent the deposit of solid waste in city parks.
Quiet and Orderly Enjoyment: Signage must not incorporate amplified sound or flashing lights that would disrupt the quiet, orderly, and suitable use and enjoyment of the surrounding public parkways by the people.
SECTION 6. INSTALLATION, DURATION, AND REMOVAL
Timeframe: Temporary signage may be installed no earlier than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the commencement of an event and must be completely removed no later than forty-eight (48) hours following the conclusion of the event.
Maintenance: All banners must be securely fastened to prevent becoming a hazard in high winds. Any sign that becomes detached, torn, or otherwise hazardous must be immediately repaired or removed by the Venue Manager or event promoter.
SECTION 7. PROHIBITED CONTENT AND LOCATIONS
Safety Egress: Under no circumstances shall temporary signage obstruct fire lanes, emergency exits, ADA compliance ramps, or lines of sight for vehicular traffic exiting or entering the venue.
Content Restrictions: Temporary signage shall not display obscene, defamatory, or unlawful material.
SECTION 8. ENFORCEMENT
The Venue Manager is responsible for the immediate removal of any temporary signage that violates this ordinance or Chapter 70 of the Municipal Code. Failure by an event promoter to remove signage within the allotted 48-hour post-event window grants the Venue Manager the right to remove and dispose of the materials, with any associated labor and municipal forfeiture costs (e.g., Sec. 70-77 or 70-92 violations) billed directly to the promoter's deposit.
