Agenda - Planning Commission - 06/03/2010

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Case # Public Hearing CONSIDER ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE CHAPTER 117 ARTICLE IIDIVISION 8 FN~TTr.F.n SIGNS - By:'Iym Gladhill, AssociatePlanner Background: In February, 2008, the City adopted amendments related to regulation of temporary signs within the' City. The amendment was part of a larger ordinance amendment related to recerit 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 simplifyhig the permitting process. This amendment removed the requirement to have a temporary sign permit. The City's sign regulations can be found in Chapter 1.17, Article II, Division 8. Prior to this amendment, permits were required af$SO 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 constmcted 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 aze lazgely related to enforcement of I) [ocaKon and 2) duration sign is placed on a parcel. Observations: Temporary'signs are now permitted far a maximum of six (6) weeks per parcel (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 aze limited to two temporary signs per parcel. In locations where there are multiple businesses on one parcel, three signs aze permitted. Since removhng the temporary sign permit, staffmg levels 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 the burden of proof to definitively state how long these temporary signs have been located on individual pazcels. If the City should choose to continue to inventory temporary signs, additional staff resources aze required in order to complete this inventory. Other issues the City has encountered with temporary signs include placement and location of temporary signs, most notably within public right-of--ways. Improper placement has negative effects of public safety (visibility along roadways), maintenance. (ability to maintain and clean boulevazd areas), and aesthetics. 17