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C � OORSEY DORSEY 8 WHITNEY LLP JEROME P. GILLIGAN (612) 340-2962 PAX (612) 340-2643 giffiganjerome@dorsey.com March 18, 2008 Mr. Michael Morrison City Manager City of St. Anthony 3301 Silver Lake Road St. Anthony, MN 55418 Re: Amendments to Sign Ordinance Dear Mr. Morrison: At your request I have reviewed the ordinance amending Section 1400 of the City Code which regulates signs. As you are aware regulations by the City of signs raises various First Amendment issues and the sign ordinance of other Minnesota cities have been challenged as violating the free speech provisions of the First Amendment. Based upon my review I believe the amendments are appropriate and I recommend that the proposed ordinance be adopted. A couple of areas in the ordinance that I would like to specifically mention are the provisions relating to non-commercial speech signs and political signs. Under the revisions one non-commercial speech sign of six square feet or less may be located on a lot in a residential district and does not require a permit. This provision is required by current Minnesota case law. In addition during a general election year any number of non-commercial speech signs of any size may be posted from August 1 until 10 days following the general election (see Section 1406, Subd. 8 of the proposed amendment). This provision is in accordance with the requirements of Minnesota Statutes Section 211B.045. Since the ordinance amending Section 1400 of the City Code will require three readings, I will continue to review and I may have further revisions. However, at this time I believe the City Council should give first reading to the ordinance approving the amendments to Section 1400 of the City Code. Should you have any questions at this time, please call me. JPG/pmh Yours T ly, OJ7eme P. GI i a DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP • WWW.DDRSEY.COM • T 612.340.2600 • F 612.340.2868 SUITE 1500 • 50 SOUTH SIXTH STREET • MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402-1498 USA CANADA EUROPE ASIA 56