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January 21, 2025 Page 2 Section 3. This change updates the City’s recently adopted natural landscape language (from 2023) to be consistent with the even more recently adopted State statutory language from 2024. Section 4. This change also relates to the natural landscapes language, removing the current prohibition from planting such landscapes in the right of way, as the City has sponsored these types of alternative gardens, and modifying the maximum height of such materials, increasing it from 12 to 18 inches, also consistent with the 2024 state statutory language for managed natural landscapes. Section 5. This change deletes reference to the City’s Health Officer, which is not a designated office in the city. Section 6. This change deletes reference to the City’s Health Officer, which is not a designated office in the city. Sections 7. and 8. This is a component of the Housing Maintenance chapter of the code. Prior language dealing with Temporary Storage deleted a section that could have been interpreted to accommodate moving container or “Pods” use, whereas the original intent was to prohibit the use of storage and shipping containers and long-term storage structures (usually in commercial or industrial areas). This section redefines for temporary storage specific to residential uses, then limits size to 128 square feet, whereas industrial shipping containers are usually a minimum of 320 square feet. Section 9. This section currently provides for removal of illegal signage by the City, irrespective of the type and location of such signage. It arguably creates a duty on the part of the City to remove such signage, which can be problematic on private property, or where there are other circumstances that may affect the prudence of this level of enforcement. The City retains other options for code compliance, but proposes (on the advice of legal counsel) to limit the removals option to commercial/industrial property of illegal signs that are larger than 6 square feet. Signs below this size are identified in the Sign Ordinance as being specifically allowed for all purposes – especially non-commercial speech, and enforcement (if appropriate) would best be addressed on a case-by-case basis. With this change, the smaller noncommercial speech signs (6 square feet or less) would be then subject to alternative enforcement measures. Sections 10 and 11. This section addresses transient merchants and peddlers. The City Code has a number of licensing and procedural requirements for such merchants, but notes also that any such merchant is required to hold a county license. In researching this process, it was noted that both Hennepin and Ramsey County have extensive licensing requirements for transient merchants and peddlers. Staff proposes deletion of this City licensing/regulatory requirement to eliminate overlap and clarify regulatory responsibilities. One existing short section is retained, specifying that the intent of the [County] licensing may not be to limit anyone’s legitimate exercise of Constitutional rights, including free speech, expression, press, religion, etc.