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Item No: 3 <br />Meeting Date: September 7, 2010 <br />Type of Business: WS <br />Administrator Review: ________ <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate <br />Item Title/Subject: Discussion about Temporary Signs <br /> <br />Introduction: <br />At the August 2, 2010 City Council work session, staff discussed temporary signage, current <br />city codes regarding signage and the possibility of amending the city code to allow businesses <br />more flexibility with using temporary signs. The City Council directed staff to bring some <br />possible sign code amendments to the September 7, 2010 work session for further discussion. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />The City Code regulates the use of most signs – including temporary signage. Temporary <br />signs include banners, beacons, changeable copy/portable signs, inflatable signs, flag or <br />pennant stringers and window signs that are affixed to the outside of the window. Many <br />businesses in Mounds View regularly use various styles of temporary signs – the most <br />commonly used are banners and portable signs that sit near the roadway. <br /> <br />After the discussion at the last work session, the City Council seemed to want to amend the <br />City Code to allow more flexibility with temporary signs, particularly with banners. Staff also <br />wants to make changes to address signs that are difficult to monitor or not being enforced. <br />Staff has put together a list of suggested changes to the sign regulations: <br /> <br />Staff suggested additions to the code: <br /> Non-commercial opinion signs – specify this type of sign, allow 1 per property (any zoning <br />district), maximum size of 9 square feet <br /> Allow temporary signs for city use without a permit (for example - Town Hall meeting and <br />Festival in the Park) <br /> Double the temporary sign permit fee if the sign is installed without a permit <br /> Increase the temporary sign permit fee to $40 in 2011 and $50 in 2012 <br /> <br />Changes to the code: <br /> <br />1. Permit periods: <br /> Current – allow three 21-day permit periods per year <br /> Change to – allow four 21-day permit periods per year <br /> <br />2. Window signs: <br /> Current – window signs: no permit required if sign is attached to the interior of the <br />window, but a temporary sign permit is required if sign is attached to the exterior of the <br />window, and no more than 25% of the window shall be covered. <br /> Change to – no permit required for any temporary window signs, no more than 50% of <br />the window shall be covered.