Agenda - Council - 07/13/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PW CASE: 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 sig-ns 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 siga-~s has been brought up at a work session. Staffwas 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 pfivate 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 all 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 wh/ch is acceptable. The state allows 80 square feet whereas the City maximum is 32 square feet. 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 from Mn/DOT regarding sig-ns in the right-of-way is attached for reference. Mn/DOT routinely removes temporary signs in their fight-of-ways. This policy as drafted addresses political signs. The policy could be modified to cover all temporary signs. Recommendation: Staff recorrm]ends adoption of the (political/all encompassing) sign policy.