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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 8, 2014 Page 5 Councilmember Roth stated the applicant is asking for one row of numbers to display gas prices and asked about the Planning Commission's rationale to allow three rows of prices. City Planner Johnson stated the Planning Commission discussed the existing sign that has three rows of gas prices and the Planning Commission wanted to allow the applicant to continue to advertise three prices even though the applicant requested only one. 8 Mr. Roger Bona, owner, and Mr. Thomas Archambault, manager of St. Anthony Mobil, 9 approached the City Council. Mr. Archambault stated they would like an electronic message 10 sign for their gas prices because it is easier to change the prices, especially in winter, and an 11 electronic message sign would look better than the current sign. He stated the text amendment 12 would limit the amount of text on signs at other gas stations and he felt that would improve the 13 image of gas stations in the community. He stated all surrounding communities allow these 14 signs and they want to stay economically viable by having a sign that is easy to see during the 15 day and that dims at night making it easy for motorists to see the gas price. 16 17 Mr. Bona stated that St. Anthony is the only community within twenty miles that does not allow 18 these signs and felt their request was overdue, simple, and fit in with the City. 19 20 Mr. Archambault stated they recently signed a contract to continue selling Exxon Mobil gas and 21 were provided with funds to enhance the appearance of the gas station and they would like to use 22 the funds toward an electronic message sign. 23 24 Councilmember Gray expressed support for the text amendment, adding that he felt the City 25 Council needs to look at how it can control brightness and color of these signs. He 26 acknowledged the City Council's desire to avoid a proliferation of signs but would rather focus 27 on figuring out how to have less of an eyesore rather than prohibiting these signs entirely. 28 29 Councilmember Stille felt this matter should go back to the Planning Commission to further 30 refine the ordinance to include regulations prohibiting flashing or moving text, that regulate 31 dimming, and that prohibit advertising except for gas prices, and that also addresses the zoning 32 issue, adding that the City currently has one gas station not in a commercial district and he felt 33 the ordinance could be concisely crafted in such a way to meet the goals of the community. 34 35 Mayor Faust stated he was not sure he wanted to be like all other cities that allow electronic 36 message signs and did not think there was a crying need in the community for these types of 37 signs adding he was concerned about other commercial businesses wanting these signs, e.g., 38 Culver's and Applebee's, and how to differentiate these commercial entities from gas stations. 39 40 Councilmember Roth stated he would not support the text amendment as written and did not 41 agree with the Planning Commission's recommendation to allow three rows of numbers when 42 the applicant only asked for one row of numbers. 43 44 Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to table action on this 45 item and direct staff to revise the applicable ordinance pursuant to the City Council's discussion, 46 including regulations related to illumination and glare, restrictions related to gas stations only, 47 and specifying one row of gas prices, and to bring this matter back to the Planning Commission 48 for recommendation.