Agenda - Council - 04/22/2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session Meeting Date: Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: 7.2. 04/22/2025 Create a positive image for residential neighborhoods, business districts and key corridors. Title: Introduce Ordinance #25-07: Sign Code Update Purpose/Background: This case pertains to the repeal of a portion of Ramsey City Code Chapter 117 and a portion of the COR Framework, and the concurrent establishment of Ramsey City Code Chapter 108, as part of the Sign Code Update. The Sign Code is intended to work in tandem with Zoning and Building Codes to regulate all types of signage in the City of Ramsey. The current Sign Code is split between two documents: Chapter 117 of Ramsey City Code, and the COR Design Framework. These separate Codes have been updated for various issues and topics over the years, but sign regulations have not had a major overhaul since 1994, with a smaller restructuring in 2008. The existing Code is hard to navigate, has many inconsistent and undefined terms, has some complex and burdensome regulations, and lacks other necessary regulations to address new types of signage. Behind the scenes, City Staff have met weekly to discuss various aspects of the existing Code and determine what should be kept, modified, or deleted in the proposed Code. These meetings include representatives from the Building Inspection and Economic Development divisions of Community Development, and they center around the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of the existing Code while addressing Ramsey's vision for the future. The goals of updating the Code include the following: • Consistency in terms and definitions • Clear purpose and intent of the sign code • Clear distinctions between what sign types and sizes are allowed in each zoning district • Consistency with how the Sign Code is interpreted and administered • Reorganization of Chapter 117 and the COR Framework language to eliminate redundancies and contradictions • Streamline processes • Create an improved Sign Code that is easier to read and understand for all users, including property owners, developers, businesses, and City Staff. Over the past few months, starting in September 2024, the Planning Commission has also had several meetings discussing various topics and sections of the Sign Code. Staff also met with City Council at the April 8, 2025, work session to discuss various topics, primarily relating to temporary signage. Feedback and comments from the Planning Commission and City Council have been incorporated into the draft Code. There are two attached draft codes for reference. The clean draft is in ordinance form. The marked -up draft is color -coded to show where the language came from for transparency. • Existing text to be retained is noted in black font. • New text to be added is noted in blue font. • Text that is rephrased or restructured, but that retains the general intent of current regulations, is noted in gold font. • Text that is proposed for deletion is noted in red strike -through font. Much of the language is retained from the existing Code, with some rearrangements and consolidations of duplicated language. There is also a substantial amount of new language added to the Code. These sections were created by City Staff and cross-referenced with various Codes of nearby cities. There are several portions that are