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Item No: 08E EMeeting Date: June 26, 2023 MOLlyis VIEW Type of Business Council Business City Administrator Review City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Jon Sevald, Community Development Director Item Title/Subject: PUBLIC HEARING: First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance 999, Amending Mounds View City Code Chapter 161 Signs and Billboards (Tabled May 22, 2023) Introduction: Staff is requesting that the City Council untable Ordinance 999, and take action on the agreeable portions of the Sign Code amendment, and address disagreeable portions after the Special Election, when there will be a full City Council. Signs are protected by the First Amendment. The City is able to regulate size and location, but not content. Much of the disagreeable items relate to content (e.g. art vs. advertising). If the Council would like to add or subtract from Ordinance 999, direction should be provided to Staff, and changes will be made for the Second Reading. Discussion: During the May 22, 2023 City Council meeting, the Council considered Ordinance 999, Tabling the First Reading and Introduction. The Ordinance amends the City Code regarding signs, including; • Increase Wall signage, from 100 sq ft to 200 sq ft or 40% of the wall area (whichever smaller). • Permits Projection Signs up to 10' in height above a roofline. • Clarifies that Ground Signs shall have a masonry base, vs. masonry around the base. • Clarifies that property owners may have more than one noncommercial sign, as long as the combined size stays at 9 sq ft (was limited to one sign, 9 sq ft). During the May 2211 meeting, the Council had a consensus to increase wall signage up to 200sq ft (recommended by the Planning Commission), but did not have a consensus if to go larger than 200 sq ft (requested by The Bear Lot), nor was there consensus on Projection Signs (e.g. proposed bear statue at The Bear Lot). The Council tabled action until after the Special Election (November 7, 2023). In April 2023, The North Church, 5151 Program Avenue removed their wall sign (Bethlehem Baptist Church). The church intends to install a new wall sign up to 200 sq ft (currently limited to 100 sq ft) in anticipation of the Ordinance amendment. Because of the Tabled action, they are stuck. Staff's intent is to move the Ordinance forward with the agreed upon language (200 sq ft wall signs), and to address disagreeable items after the Special Election. Analysis: Staff researched sign regulations from cities with zoning districts and traffic counts similar to Mounds View Boulevard, finding that other cities permit Wall Signs significantly larger than I Fie IVIUUrlub view V 151url A Thriving Desirable Community