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in section 8 to make the ordinance more specific and explicit and leave no doubt as to <br />• the city's intent. The commissioners joined in a detailed discussion of the language <br />of those provisions. <br />Commissioner Noble asked what is served in the city by allowing dynamic signs at <br />all. Her concern is the impact on adjacent residential areas and whether the <br />brightness limits in the draft are realistic. The "nits" measurement unit only applies <br />to these kinds of displays, and the numbers given are conservative compared to <br />other cities, according Ms. Kirchoff. Additional discussion on brightness standards <br />followed. <br />Commissioners continued to discuss the language of the provisions and the larger <br />question of whether an outright ban should be considered after all. Would the city be <br />subject to challenge if we enacted an outright ban? Commissioners had previously <br />been advised that this might be the case and Council Member Kuettel said that the <br />Council would not want to see that happen. If the city were to allow the dynamic <br />signs but place restrictions that eliminated most opportunities, would that meet the <br />concerns raised so far without subjecting the city to legal challenges? <br />After more discussion, Commissioner Lukermann proposed a motion that the <br />commission recommend approval of the draft ordinance with the attachment of <br />several caveats, including a call for more research into the nit limits in Section 8, <br />• paragraph 8 and some decision on the undetermined surface area in Section 8, <br />paragraph 2. Anderson said she would like an amendment to the motion to require <br />more specificity in the parts of Section 8 that she brought up earlier. Commissioner <br />Watkins pointed out that there was not yet a consensus on the 150 foot distance from <br />residential. <br />Commissioners once again addressed the specifics of the restrictions in Section 8 of <br />the ordinance, selecting 150 feet for the distance from residential property and 25 <br />for the amount of sign area that may be dynamic. Commissioners also stated that <br />they would like to have language inserted that met Commissioner Anderson's <br />concerns about interpretation of paragraphs 3 and 5. They also wanted more specific <br />time limits, sunrise and sunset rather than "dawn' and "dusk," for the change of <br />brightness and to limit the display change time to between 9:00 a.m. and noon. <br />Anderson proposed additional language for paragraph 4 that would specify one <br />color and brightness of light on a dark background. and, with the assistance of the <br />city attorney, came up with language that would meet the concerns articulated by <br />Commissioner Anderson. <br />In view of the motion on the floor not having received a second and so many changes <br />being introduced, Commissioner Lukermann said she would like to restate her <br />• motion. Ms. Jones read out the changes that that had been made to the wording of <br />the ordinance in the course of the preceding discussion. After further refinement of <br />the wording by the Commission, Ms Lukermann accepted these changes as a friendly <br />City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of July 22, 2008 -Page 2 of 3 <br />