ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Community Development Director with a Recommendation to ENACT a MORATORIUM on the ENFORCEMENT of Certain Regulations Related to the ANIMATION OF SIGNS.
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BACKGROUND: The City Council directed staff to review the current regulations related to the animation of digital signs and bring back an ordinance providing for some allowance of animation. This ordinance change was due back to Council at the April 22, 2014 meeting.
Although substantial progress has been made on this front, staff believes that it would be more productive to bring back a more comprehensive set of changes related to the policy session on community design (signs, parking, landscaping, etc.) rather than piecemeal the changes.
However, understanding the direction from Council to permit animated signs in the interim, this recommendation would create a moratorium on the enforcement of the sections of the Zoning Code listed below until December 31, 2014, or when a comprehensive change to the sign ordinance is adopted; whichever comes first.
City staff shall not enforce violations of the following City Code Sections:
1. Appendix B, Section 17.15.c.(a) Static Images Only - "Sign content/messages shall not consist of video, and shall not move, blink, animate, flash, or behave in any other way which constitutes or implies motion. Images shall remain static except during transition."
2. Appendix B, Section 17.15.c.(b) Length of Display - "Electronic multiple message signs are permitted to change their message no more than once per every ten seconds, except that time/temperature/stock market signs are allowed change every three seconds."
3. Appendix B, Section 17.15.c.(c) Transitions - "There shall be no animation, traveling, scrolling, fades, or dissolves between displayed messages. Transitions between content/messages shall be instantaneous."
Not included in this moratorium shall be strobe lights or other rapidly flashing lights. Also not included in the moratorium are signs prohibited under Appendix B, Section 17.10.a.(1), generally including non-digital signs that move or give the appearance of movement.
Nothing in this action shall constitute the creation of a non-conforming animated digital sign.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: NA
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: NA
IMPACT IF APPROVED: A moratorium on enforcement shall be enacted.
IMPACT IF DENIED: A moratorium on enforcement shall not be enacted.
ALTERNATIVES: NA
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: NA
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
DEPARTMENT: Community Development