Agenda - Council - 07/27/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case# ~. ~~ ADOPT ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE CHAPTER 117 ARTICLE II DIVISION 8 ENTITLED SIGNS By: Tim Gladhill, Associate Planner Background: On July 13, 2010, the City Council introduced an ordinance to amend the City's sign regulations. 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 pacel (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 are permitted. Since removing the temporary sign permit, staffing 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 parcels. 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 on public safety (visibility along roadways), maintenance (ability to maintain and clean boulevazd areas), and aesthetics. A temporary sign permit would be intended to state the start and end time the temporary sign will be erected, and ensure proper location. The proposed ordinance would charge $25 for the first permit (per year), and each subsequent permit fee would be waived for that year. At the Work Session, it was discussed to require an actual Permit to be affixed to the temporary sign so any staff member could check on site for a valid permit. The proposed ordinance requires that the Temporary Sign Permit is only required in Business and Employment Districts; Temporary Sign Permits are not proposed to be required for Residential Districts. In addition, temporary signs smaller than fifteen (15) squaze feet are also exempt from permits. Regardless as to whether a permit is required or not, all temporary signs are required to conform to City Code. The City will continue to address all sign complaints on a complaint- basis.