Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View City Council January 7, 2008 <br />Special Meeting Page 2 <br />and additional information has been provided to Council for review. After the Council reviewed <br />this matter the Planning Commission reviewed the documentation and the Ordinance and <br />adopted Resolution 881-07 recommending approval of this Ordinance. <br />Interim Administrator Ericson noted that this is in response to the adopted moratorium providing <br />a moratorium on any new signs, permits, billboards, and any signs in Mounds View due to the <br />concerns with dynamic display billboards and the research that needed to be done. Research has <br />been completed and Staff has provided that information to Council. <br />Attorney Riggs explained that the Staff memorandum covers this issue well. Attorney Riggs <br />indicated that Clear Channel representatives are present and would like to speak to this <br />Ordinance. <br />Attorney Riggs indicated that other issues would need to be addressed with regard to the sign <br />code but this amendment addresses dynamic billboards. <br />Mayor Marty opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. <br />Tom McCarver from Clear Channel Outdoor addressed the Council and said that he is speaking <br />to this as they are one of the two billboard companies in the market and they are the only digital <br />provider for the larger billboards in the metro area. Mr. McCarver indicated that he has spoken <br />to various City officials on this matter before and they are willing to work out a partnership with <br />the City. <br />Mr. McCarver explained some of their partnerships involving Mn/DOT weather and traffic <br />issues and amber alerts. <br />Attorney Riggs indicated that he has discussed the option of a closed session with legal staff <br />Mr. Jim Baffin of 2332 Laport Drive said that this is an issue he never would have thought about <br />before involving light pollution from Medtronic. He then asked how much light the electronic <br />billboards put out. <br />Mr. McCarver explained that Clear Channel billboards are constructed to be seen easily which is <br />different from an on premise sign. He then said that there are louvers that direct the lighted <br />message to the target area. He further explained that their standard billboards have a light that <br />reflects off and they are trying to use different lights to focus the light but with an LED there are <br />louvers that direct the light. <br />Mr. Baffin said that this sounds like intriguing technology with things to minimize the impact <br />but, he would like whatever Ordinance that goes in to take into account the proximity to <br />residential areas where their homes are. <br />Attorney Riggs explained that the public record would include the Minutes of the December 10, <br />2007 meeting, materials provided at the December 10, 2007 meeting, materials from the <br />