Mayor Henry Martinez asked City Council members Tuesday to give him written suggestions for a possible ordinance to regulate commercial signs using light-emitting diode technology.
At a meeting earlier this month, council members discussed a possible moratorium on LED signs, but took no action.
At Tuesday's meeting, a father and son who operate a feed and garden supply store urged the council not to prohibit the signs, saying they can be operated without causing a hazard to passing motorists.
Evans Scroggs said his father, Phil Scroggs, bought an established business, Louisiana Feeds, and has expanded it to carry lawn and garden supplies, but the business needs to advertise its goods through a digital signboard.
Both men said their business faces competition from the new Tractor Supply Co. and an LED sign would help them compete.
"It would help our business immensely," Phil Scroggs said.
The two also provided council members with copies of studies they said show that LED signs are not a safety hazard.
Councilman Randy Bouley, who put the item on Tuesday's agenda for discussion, did not immediately respond to the comments, but later in the meeting Councilman Melvin Riley said, "We're going to have to put this LED sign issue to bed."
Riley said the city needs an ordinance, even if it is a temporary measure, to let businesses know where the city government stands on the issue.
Bouley said the council should not move forward immediately "so we don't have to live with our mistakes," referring specifically to a sign at a church as one "we're going to have to live with for a
long time."
Martinez asked council members to put their "kinda likes and don't likes" in writing in order for the city attorney to research a possible ordinance.
"Give me something to change," the mayor said.
Riley suggested that council members should forward their suggestions to the mayor by June 3.
