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CASE # a <br />CONSIDER PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SIGN ORDINANCE <br />By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer <br />Background: <br />The general provisions section of Chapter 9.12' of the City Code prohibits all signs except those <br />placed by governmental units within the public rights of way. The Public Works Department has <br />been diligent in enforcing this provision of the ordinance and has been removing violating signs <br />whenever such signs are discovered or reported. Removed signs are discarded; however the low <br />cost of many of these signs causes the same type of violation to occur repeatedly. This effort <br />causes an expenditure of public works staff time and resources and defeats the desired goal of <br />maintaining the rights of way free of advertising signage. <br />Staff feels that progressive policy for dealing with repeated violations would have a positive <br />effect on achieving the goal of maintaining the rights of way free of unauthorized signage. It is <br />suggested that such progressive system include: <br />First violation Phone call advising the sign owner of the City Code prohibiting <br />signs in the rights of way. <br />Second Violation A certified letter warning that placement of additional sites will <br />result in penalties being assessed. <br />Third Violation Issuing of citations for violation of the sign ordinance. <br />Staff is seeking input from the Committee on this proposal as well as the duration of the intervals <br />between violations and amount of the fine to be assessed. <br />Recommendation: <br />Staff recommends that an amendment to the sign ordinance be developed with the assistance of <br />the City Attorney to allow for progressive penalties for repeated violations of the placement of <br />signs in the public rights of way. <br />Action: <br />Motion to recommend to City Council that the an amendment to the sign ordinance be developed <br />with the assistance of the City Attorney to allow for progressive penalties for repeated violations <br />of the placement of signs in the public rights of way. <br />Reviewed by: <br />Public Works Director/Principal Engineer <br />Public Works Superintendent/Fire Chief <br />City Attorney <br />Public Works Supervisor <br />Police Chief <br />Community Development Director <br />PW: 11/21/06 <br />-183- <br />