Title
An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 61, Signs and Outdoor Advertising, to Allow Portable Exterior Business Signs (Ordinance No. ORD-10-06)
Memorandum
Approval of these amendments to Chapter 61, Signs and Outdoor Advertising, will allow the use of portable exterior business signs, subject to an annual permit and inspection. Such signs currently are not permitted.
Background
On October 5, 2009 City Council passed Resolution R-09-404 establishing a task force to develop regulations for “sandwich board” signs (a/k/a “portable signs”). Council charged the task force with reviewing the existing City policies associated with these signs placed in the public right-of-way, framing recommendations for more effective placement and size regulations, and identifying appropriate fees.
The Sandwich Board Sign Task Force, chaired by Councilmember Briere, met twice in November 2009 and provided the following recommendations:
· The task force agreed that the ordinance should apply to the City as a whole, not just those businesses in the Downtown Development Authority district.
· The task force agreed that the ordinance should apply to any business, not just those on the ground floor.
· The task force was unable to find a way to accommodate off-premises signs legally and simply.
· The task force agreed that any business that already paid for a sidewalk occupancy permit didn't need to pay additional fees for a sandwich board (i.e., portable) sign, as long as the sign fit within the area of their occupancy permit.
· The task force agreed that more than one business sign could occupy space in front of a building (in the situation where there are up- or down-stairs tenants) as long as the space reserved for the signs and/or occupancy remains legal.
· The task force agreed that the timing of the permit for a sandwich board sign should be the same as that of the sidewalk occupancy except during the first year (assuming the ordinance receives Council approval). In the first year, p...
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