Agenda - Council Work Session - 05/04/2010

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Topic Report: Temporary Signs By: Tim Gladhill, Associate Planner; Amber G. Miller, Planning Manager Background: In February, 2008, the City adopted amendments related to regulation of temporary signs within the City. The amendment was part of a lazger ordinance amendment related to recent judicial action that required cities across the state to review current ordinances to remove any reference to content based regulations. The City took this opportunity to maximize flexibility to our residents as it relates to temporary signs by increasing the number of temporary signs permitted while also simplifying the permitting process. This amendment removed the requirement to have a temporary sign permit. The City's sign regulations can be found in Chapter 117, Article II, Division 8. Prior to this amendment, permits were required at $50 per sign permit for each week the sign is displayed. Temporary signs are defined as signs which are erected or displayed for a limited period of time and not affixed to a state building code approved structure. A sign is considered temporary if it is not intended to remain on the property permanently and has not received a permanent sign permit and/or is not intended to be constructed per the state building code. As it relates to temporary signs, the most significant changes to the ordinance included allowing temporary, off-premise signs and removing permitting requirements for temporary signs only. Major issues with the current temporary sign ordinance are largely related to enforcement of I) location and 2) duration sign is placed on a parcel. Observations: Temporary signs are now permitted for a maximum of six (6) weeks per pazcel (or per business on multitenant business) per year, with a bonus of an additional four (4) weeks with no documented sign violations within the past twelve (12) months. Temporary signs must be located fully on private property, with the permission of the property owner. All properties are limited to two temporary signs per parcel. In locations where there are multiple businesses on one parcel, three signs are permitted. Rather than requiring a permit for a temporary sign, the City took on the responsibility to routinely inventory all temporary signs in commercial and industrial areas on asemi-regular basis. Since that time, staffing levels in Community Development have been significantly reduced, and City Staff has had to refocus priorities. Staff has been unable to perform the necessary inventories and been unable to uphold