01-07-2008 SPECIAL CC - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 7A Meeting Date: Jan 7, 2008 Type of Business: Council Business Administrator Review: _________ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Ericson, Interim City Administrator Item Title/Subject: Public Hearing, Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 801, an Ordinance Amending Chapter 1008 Regarding Requirements for Signs and Billboards Introduction: The City Council adopted Ordinance 784 on February 12, 2007 which authorized a one-year moratorium on the installation, creation, construction, replacement, modification or improvement of static or changing electronic, digital, video, display signs or billboards and flashing motion, animated, changeable copy and illuminated signs in all zoning districts. This moratorium will expire on February 12, 2008. Discussion: The City Attorney has reviewed all relevant studies and research regarding the impacts and safety consequences of dynamic signs and has prepared an ordinance which will amend Chapter 1008 to define “Dynamic Display” and to clarify that no further interim use permits will be issued for any new or presently existing billboards in the City of Mounds View. The ordinance will also clarify that dynamic display signs, as defined, and billboards in general, would be prohibited in the City. Planning Commission. Ordinance 784 (the moratorium) indicated that the Planning Commission will review any studies or actions relating to the billboard and signage issue. On December 19, 2007, the Planning Commission reviewed the same studies that were presented to the City Council and also reviewed studies that had been forwarded to the City by way of Clear Channel. Also reviewed were additional newspaper articles on the matter. After discussing the subject matter, the Planning Commission approved Resolution 881-07, a resolution which supports the adoption of Ordinance 801. First Reading. The City Council introduced and held the first reading of Ordinance 801 on December 10, 2007. In addition to the studies that were presented on December 10 to the Council, additional information has been provided to the City Council which had been provided by Clear Channel. The City Attorney indicates that more definitive studies based on empirical data will not be available until 2009. Recommendation: Staff and the City Attorney believe that the best course of action relating to the soon-to- expire moratorium is to define the type of signage in question and to adopt language which prohibits such signage. While this action would admittedly cause all existing dynamic displays signs to become non-conforming, not taking such action would potentially leave the door open for dynamic display boards to be erected anywhere.