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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 17, 2006 Page 2 1 electronic signs were not permitted for any districts except signs located on property owned by 2 the City or Independent School District 282. She mentioned Mr. Bona informed Staff that 3 because gas prices are constantly changing, it was difficult at times to keep up with the 4 fluctuation. She stated Mr. Bona informed Staff the number signs become brittle and more 5 difficult to attach to the pylon sign during the winter, and using a ladder is dangerous. 6 7 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes stated Staff was asked to determine what other Minnesota 8 communities allowed electronic gas display signs. She reported that Shoreview,New Brighton, 9 Columbia Heights, and Watertown allow electronic gas display signs. Assistant City Manager 10 Moore-Sykes explained Coon Rapids allows changeable copy for illuminated signs and the City 11 of Bloomington is considering an ordinance that separates various types of electronic signs into 12 four categories to establish development standards unique to each sign type. 13 14 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes stated Staff is asking for a recommendation to the City 15 Council on whether to change the language to the City's sign ordinance regarding permitting 16 electronic gas price display signs. She explained because this not a change to the City's Zoning 17 Ordinance, City Council would need to hold three readings for the proposed language change. 18 19 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes explained the proposed language change would be to 20 Chapter 14 Ste, Sections 1400.0 and 1400.12. She read the recommended language for each 21 subdivision; 1400.07 Prohibited Signs, Subdivision 20, Electronic Message Signs would include 22 (2) Gas price display signs for fuel stations in the Commercial Zoning District. 23 24 Assistant City Manager Moore-Sykes stated under 1400.12 District Schedules, Subdivision 2, 25 Commercial and Limited Business (2), would included the following wording: "A gasoline 26 station will be allowed, in addition to all other authorized signs, one pylon sign to identify the 27 gasoline brand. This sign may not exceed 30 feet in height, and must have a minimum clearance 28 of eight feet from the basic grade level to the lowest element of the sign surface and may not 29 exceed 150 square feet in sign surface area. Such establishment will be allowed one changeable 30 price display sign for each frontage having a curb cut. That portion of the gas sign that 31 announces prices and consists of changeable copy, manual or electronic. A gas price display 32 must be integrated into a freestanding,pylon sign. Fuel stations may integrate a gas display sign 33 into an electronic changeable copy sign,provided: copy height shall not exceed 14.5 inches; the 34 electronic copy is limited to numeric characters only; the electronic copy shall not scroll, flash or 35 blink, or include animated copy of graphics;the electronic copy shall be limited to one color. 36 Such freestanding signs will be in addition to those signs allowed in paragraph one of this 37 Subdivision." 38 39 Mr. Tom Archambeau, St. Anthony Mobil Manager, commented the proposed changes are for 40 the purposes stated. He stated the volatility of gas prices require changes several times per week. 41 He commented that in the last few winters, a combination of rain, sleet, and snow created safety 42 issues for employees as they attempted to change the signs. 43 44 Commissioner Jenson asked Mr. Archambeau for the current gas price heights. 45