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Item Number: _7B_ Meeting Date: September 27, 2010 Type of Business: Action Administrator Review: ______ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 847, Amending City Code Chapter 1008 about Signs Date: September 27, 2010 Introduction: At the August and September Council Work sessions, possible changes to the sign code, specifically regarding temporary signage were discussed after the owner of Moe’s Restaurant approached the Council about allowing businesses to use banners more often. Staff brought several possible code changes to the September work session for the Council to review. The City Council was supportive of the suggested changes, so staff has drafted an ordinance to amend the sign code. There also are changes for campaign signs in this ordinance due to the date change of the state primary. Discussion: The proposed changes to the sign code address many things. Some of the changes are to remove some sign regulations that are hard to enforce, give businesses another temporary sign permit period, and allow some small signs without permits. The idea to create an annual permit for banners was liked by the Council, but then a business could potentially have banners up all the time. As an alternative to an annual permit, staff suggested allowing an extra temporary sign period for banners only instead. Staff has included language in the ordinance for an additional permit period only, but if the Council prefers having the annual permit for banners, staff would make that change in the ordinance. Campaign Signs: On March 3, 2010, Governor Pawlenty signed a bill into law (Chapter 184) that moved the State primary to the second Tuesday in August (August 10 this year). Previously, the State held the primary on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September. This law also changed the state regulations about the dates for the posting of noncommercial signs for the state primary and general election. Because of the state law change, City staff is recommending that the City amend the City Code about campaign signs to ensure that the City Code is consistent with State law. The City’s existing sign ordinance allows campaign signs to be displayed from the last day of candidacy filing or thirty days before and election, whichever is earlier. The current code also requires the removal of campaign signs no later than five days after an election. Unfortunately, these City Code provisions are not consistent with the requirements adopted by the State earlier this year.