Agenda - Council - 06/22/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

cc c.s : ZZ REVIEW POLICY ON PLACEMENT OF TEMPORARY SIGNS By: Leonard Linton, Civil Engineer Background: Temporary signs appear overnight and are usually in the right of way. Public works crews have removed signs in the right of way in the past as time allowed. This year is a presidential election year and political signs will most likely start appearing soon. The topic of temporary signs has been brought up at a work session. Staff was asked to review the issue and bring forward a policy regarding temporary signs. Observations: Placement of temporary signs is permitted subject to the conditions of City Code Chapter 9. The requirements include limitations on the size of the sign, the duration of placement and the location. The signs must be placed on private property and be removed in a timely manner after the event happens. The attached statement is written to address political signs. It could be expanded to include ail temporary signs. Developing a written policy that is easily distributed will aid in the enforcement of the provision for NO SIGNS in the right-of-way. The city policy on political sign size is more restrictive than state law which is acceptable. The state allows 80 sq. ft. whereas the city maximum is 32 sq. ft. The city is also more restrictive on the time allowed after the election, 7 days vs. 10 days. This is also acceptable. The state election law does not address location of the signs other than to restrict placement of signs within 100 feet of polling locations. MN/Dot does address the placement of signs. The May 10, 2004 News release fi.om MN/Dot regarding signs in the right of way is attached for reference. MN/Dot routinely removes temporary signs in their right of ways. This policy as drafted addresses political signs. The policy could be modified to cover all temporary signs. -317-