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July 2, 2008 <br />the time and /or temperature or similar, should not be allowed in any District <br />except as otherwise set forth in this Ordinance. <br />Discussions among city staff and LMCIT attorneys have raised several legal issues that will <br />need further exploration /analysis. Some questions raised include: <br />♦ If the City chooses to allow off - premise signage (required to allow proposed <br />project), the City can limit it to certain areas of the city or within certain zoning <br />districts. However, limiting off- premise signage to only City owned property <br />creates some legal concerns. Are residents /City Council prepared for <br />additional off - premises signage? <br />♦ Allowing off - premise signage will allow almost anything to be advertised, <br />including businesses located out of state, controversial political views, etc. <br />We need to make sure residents and the City Council are aware of potential <br />implications. <br />♦ The primary reasons the City Code prohibits dynamic signage is for traffic <br />safety concerns and maintaining a pleasing aesthetic environment. If we are <br />going to promote additional dynamic signs (by permitting off - premises <br />signage), why do these concerns not apply? <br />♦ Will residents and the City Council be comfortable when additional dynamic <br />signs are installed? (Major reason the Sign Ordinance was amended was to <br />prohibit dynamic signs) <br />♦ We need to formulate a policy related to acceptable content of messages. <br />What activities /announcements are appropriate and what messages must be <br />permitted on a "public" message board? (Public Forum Analysis) For <br />example, if someone requests the message "Vote NO on city referendum" be <br />placed on the Community message board, must the City acquiesce? Do we <br />advertise local businesses? If so to what extent (ie. grand openings, <br />sponsors of Blue Heron Days, happy hours)? A policy will need to be <br />formulated that will pass legal review. <br />♦ Any changes to the Sign Ordinance will have future repercussions. Staff <br />wants to make sure the City Council understands the effects (legal and <br />otherwise) of amending the Sign Ordinance to accommodate this project. <br />Any action the City Council considers (ie. allowing dynamic displays along County Roads, <br />permitting off -site signage, etc.) that abolishes the recent amendments to the Sign <br />Ordinance should be done consciously and with much forethought. Since there are several <br />significant issues that staff and LCMIT attorneys need to further investigate, we have <br />removed this agenda item from the July work session and anticipate placing it on the <br />August work session agenda. <br />3 <br />