Agenda - Council - 03/11/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I ! I' I ! I I I I I Pw cass# ~ DISCUSSION ON CAMPAIN SIGN PLACEMENT ISSUES By: Dean I~apler, public Works Director BaCkground: In the summer or t999, during a special election,, staff Was .given direction.. On .dealing' 'with illegally placed campaign signs .throughout the city Of Ramsey. This' informal [Ordy reacting to complaints, staff was not to. survey the city for illegally placed -Once a complaint was received, staff was to contact-the party and notify them of. the illegally placed sign. ' -Once notified,· a 48-hour time period was allowed for the party to remove .the. -If the sign was not removed 'in 48 'hOurs, staff was to remove the sign and notify the party of where to' pick up the..sign. . . . .. ~ ~ .. .. During the. 2002 elections, 'staff again dealt with signs located in:prohibited-locations. - Most of the occurrences were resolved immediately, some were not. Under' the current ir~f'ormal direction, staff is very limited to what can be done to deal withI the illegallY placed signs. The State of Minnesota and the .City'of-Ramsey have laws and regulations that specifically deal with placement of signs' (these are attached): The city of Ramsey's Chapter 9.12.03 Subd. 15 a:) states ,No Sign other than governmental l 'siLms shall be erected or temp'°rarily placed within any street or'public right7of-way Or upon any public easement." - Minnesota Statues, section 160;27 a~lSo. 'states'that State 'law'. prohibits' the placement,.. painting, printing, or affixing of advertisements on any Object within the limits of. any. highway in Minnesota. This prohibition applies to political camPai.'gn signs'as-Well as to" all other, forms of advertising. The law ,applies to ail state, county,, city 'and township roacks and highways. ' ' ~ . . It Should be noted that' An0ka CoUnty. refers to State .statute When· dealing: with 'illegally'-