Agenda - Council - 02/12/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case # 5 • ADOPT ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 9.12 (SIGNS) OF THE CITY CODE: CASE OF CITY OF RAMSEY By: Breanne Dalnes, Associate Planner Background: In May of 2007, staff brought forward a worksession item relating to the City's Sign Ordinance. The League of Minnesota Cities had sponsored a legal seminar regarding sign regulations, and it became evident that the city's ordinance was in violation of the First Amendment because it regulated signs based on content. At the worksession, City Council directed staff to revise the Sign Ordinance to eliminate content -based regulation and examine regulations for electronic signs, which is new technology that the City Code does not address. In August of 2007, the Planning Commission heard the proposed changes to the sign ordinance, and directed staff to make some revisions to the ordinance. Staff brought forward a revised ordinance to the Planning( Commission in December that specifically focuses on eliminating content -based regulation. The City Council introduced the proposed ordinance on January 22, 2008, with no discussion. A copy of the ordinance is included in your packet for review. • Observations: Staff is prepared to bring forward changes to only the temporary sign regulations at this time. Based on City Council direction, staff will move forward with examining the electronic sign regulations and permanent sign standards at a later date. Below is a brief summary of the changes: Size: The proposed ordinance proposes to limit all temporary signs to 50 square feet. Location: The proposed ordinance would allow off-premise'temporary signs, with the permission of the property owners, but not in the right-of-way. Duration: Staff is proposing an incentive -based time extension of four weeks, assuming no prior sign violations within the year. Amount: The Planning Commission has requested amendments to allow up to 3 signs at a time on multi -tenant properties, and the ordinance has been revised accordingly. Permit and Fee Structure: The sign permit and fee will be eliminated under the new ordinance. Enforcement: The proposed ordinance would eliminate the need for a permit, thus requiring an alternative method of enforcement, particularly the duration limitation. Staff will rely primarily on complaint -based enforcement, but also conduct a once -monthly sign inventory by a drive-by • on major roads. If a sign is witnessed more than three months in a row, a letter will be sent allowing'5 days for removal, and if still in violation, an administrative ticket will be issued. —265—