City Council approved an amendment to Chapter 20 of the Grapevine Code of Ordinances that allows temporary political signs to be displayed at publicly owned buildings when used as a polling location at its meeting April 15.

The approved amendment is now in line with Texas legislation. Texas House Bill 259 was passed in 2013, which made Grapevine's previous ordinance illegal due to its prohibition of political signs on any publicly owned property, especially when the city moved its polling location to Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main St.

Citizens will vote at that location for the May 10 general election.

The new ordinance allows temporary political signs no larger than 4 square feet on the public rights-of-way and any publicly owned property designated as a polling location. The council also stipulated that 25 signs are allowed per candidate or ballot measure, which must be supported by a metal stake no larger than 9 gauge in diameter and must be placed in the perimeter landscape.

In a session for citizen comments during the meeting, resident Kathleen Thompson said that the change to the political sign ordinance, coming 13 days before early voting begins, is bad timing.

"It's an unusual situation this year by moving [the polling location] to the convention center. I do think that Ms. Thompson has a valid point about the timing because it is so close to the election, and it will also certainly have an impact in November," Councilwoman Darlene Freed said. "But I think that we need to move forward with it."

Councilman Chris Coy also said that the requirement allowing 25 signs per candidate would put everyone on the same playing field.

The council approved the amendment in a unanimous decision.