GRAPEVINE — At its April 15 meeting, the City Council unanimously 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 they are used as a polling location.

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

Citizens can vote at that location in 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 in the perimeter landscape of the location, each candidate or ballot measure is allowed 25 signs. These signs must be supported by a metal stake no larger than 9 gauge in diameter.

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.

Although Councilwoman Darlene Freed supported the decision to approve the measure, she agreed with Thompson and said the new regulation will have more of an impact on the November election.