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STAFF REPORT To: Planning Commission Report No.: IX.1. From: Kim Moore-Sykes,Assistant City Manager Date: March 18,2008 Subject: Draft Sign Ordinance Requested Action: Review of Draft Sign Ordinance Date Application Received: N/A Property Address: N/A Zoning District: N/A 60-Day Expires: N/A Waiver Letter Required: Yes Date Sent: No X Future Action: Council Action: Three (3) Readings scheduled for March 25,2008,April 22,2008 and May 27, 2008. Background: The CityCouncil directed staff to review and revise the City's Sign Ordinance as a result of a session the League of Minnesota Cities held late 2006. The LMC attorneys reported to those in attendance that many municipal sign ordinances were being ruled unconstitutional by the courts because these ordinances were found to be regulating the speech content of the signs. Staff presented the proposed Sign Ordinance at the Feb. 19,2008 Planning Commission meeting and the Commissioners suggested additional changes that have been incorporated into the attached draft copy of the proposed Sign Ordinance. The substantial changes are in red and any portion of the Ordinance that appeared to regulate speech or favor commercial speech over non-commercial speech were removed. Staff tried to retain those aspects of the Ordinance that are particular to the City of St. Anthony Village,while at the same time removing any provocative language that might be determined as limiting to freedom of speech. Staff will also present a PowerPoint presentation this evening of the LMC memo entitled SIGN ORDmANcEs AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT which further explains the challenges that cities may face with their sign ordinance and those provisions that should be removed and why. Action: Review and provide comment to the draft Sign Ordinance. Attachments: 0 Draft Chapter 14 with proposed revisions • LMCIT Memo • January 29,2008 Staff Report to the City Council Draft Sign Ordinance 2008 review.doc