07-742-14-07 Substitute w/amendments noted.
CITY
Presented By
Council File # 07-74
Green Sheet # 3036432
An ordinance pursuant tolGIinn. Stat. § 462.355, Subd. 4 to
preserve the status quo pending the completion and report of a
study and possible action on the study including amending the
City's zoning ordinances regulating advertising signs as they may
pertain to retrofitting existing advertising signs with new "digital"
or "electronic" panels
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAIIVT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Section 1
�
'���!Ss„�
�
��' �l
Statement of Legislative Intent: The Council of the City of Saint Paul finds that it is once again
necessary to preserve the status quo regarding the City's regulation of advertising signs which are
more commonly refened to as "billboards." The Council finds that the outdoor advertising sign
industry has begun to reface existing billboard panels and replaced existing billboard and
billboazd structures with new, electronic panels some of which include digital technology. Digital
technology permits billboards to display an electronic image similar to a color television set.
Digital technology further permits the image displayed on the electronic billboard to quickly
change from one image to another.
The Council finds that a billboard that has been resurfaced or replaced with electronic panels
utilizing digital technology does, or arguably may, substantially expand the impact of that
billboard on surrounding lands and uses.
The Council finds that it is therefore necessary to study the impact of these new electronic
billboards to determine whether there may be safety and aestheUc implications created by this
type of billboard that would be detrimental to the public health, welfare and safety.
The Council notes that the City's zoning code presently regulates "flashing" signs by prohibiting
them throughout the City and regulates "electronic message" signs by prohibiting them from
residential zoning districts and pernutting them only in certain business and industrial districts
provided that the sign meets separation and display requirements. However, the Council finds
that the City's existing definitions and regulations as set forth in the zoning code may need to be
amended to codify its existing intent and purpose and also may be inadequate to regulate existing
billboazds retrofitted or replaced with the new digital technology. Therefore, the Council finds
that a planning study is necessary to deternune whether the City's existing zoning regulations are
adequate to regulate advertising signs utilizing digital technology or whether it is necessary to
adopt new regularions dealing with signs utilizing digital technology.
Accordingly, it is the desire of the Council of the City of Saint Paul to establish under this
interim ordinance, a moratorium protecting the general health, welfare and safety of the public
and preserving the status quo with respect to retrofitting existing billboards with new digital or
electronic panels, pending the conclusion of a zoning study on the same and until such time as
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
v�=��
the study has been reported to the Council and the effective date of any Council action on any
recommendations arising therefrom, by immediately prohibiting the issuance of any building or
zoning pernut necessary to so retrofit or replace any existing advertising or business sign within
the boundaries of the City.
Section 2
Moratorium Imposed Moratorium Imposed: on any parcel of land, lot, or part thereof within
the boundaries of the City pending the completion of the said zoning study noted in SecUOn 1 and
action by the City Council on the said study, the issuance or approval of zoning and building
permits for retrofitting or replacine any advertising sign or anv new business sign with new
digital or electronic technology of any type capable of creating electronic images on signs as
discussed above, is prohibited until the expiration of twelve months or until such earlier time as
the City Council has taken action on the recommendations contained in the said study.
Section 3
Moratorium. Effective Date: The effective date of the moratorium enacted under this interim
ordinance is deemed to be as of the effective date of an accompanying Resolution pertaining to
the same subject.
Section 4
Effective Date of Interim Ordinance to Supercede and Discharee the Council's Resolution
Pertainina to the Same Matter: This interim ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days
from and after its passage, approval and publication. Pending the effective date of this interim
ordinance, applications regazding pernuts for retrofitting or replacing any advertising si�n or �
new business sign with new digital or electronic technology of any type capable of creating
electronic images on signs, as discussed is in Section 1, within the boundaries of the City and
regulated by this interim ordinance, shall be processed in conformance with the terms and
conditions set forth in a companion Resolution. As of the effective date of this interim ordinance,
the terms of the companion Resolution shall be discharged without additional action of this
Council.
�f�
oz
Req�ested by Departmeut of
Aao
By:
APP
By.
By:
Fotm Approved by City Attomey
By: �W Wrnivr�r— 2'�3"c'�
Foxm Approved by Mayor for Submission [o Council
By:
�����
CMY\ 1 3 �07
Adopted by Council: Date Z Z���
o�=��
� Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
co ���
Contact Person & Phone:
Coundl Presiden[ Lantry
zss-as�o
Must Be on
24-JAN-06
Doc. Type: ORDiNANCE
E-Document Required: Y
DocumentConWCt: EllenBiales
ContactPhone: 266-8671
Z4-JAN-07
�
Assign
Number
For
Routing
Order
ToWI # of Signature Pages _(Clip All Lowtions for Signature)
Green Sheet NO: 3036432
0 Council I
1 Counc� I Deo�ent D'aecror
2 'ty Clerk I I
3
4 I
s
An ordinance preserving the status quo pending the completion and report of a study and possible action on tkie study including
amending the Ciry's zouing ordinances regularing advertising signs as they may pertain to reh�ofitting existing advertising signs with
new "digital" or "eleckonic" panels. �
itlations: Approve (A) or Reject (R): Personal Service Contracts Must Answer the Following Questions:
Planning Commission 1. Has this person/firm ever worked under a conVact for this department?
CIB CommiHee Yes No
Civil Service Commission 2. Has this person(firm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this person/firm possess a skill not normally possessed by any
curtent city employee?
Yes No
Expiain all yes answers on separate sheet and atWCh to green sheet
Initiating Problem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
Advantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Approved:
DisadvanWges If Not Approved:
Trensaction:
Funding Source:
Fi nancial lnformation:
(Explain)
Activity Number:
CosVRevenue Budgeted:
January 25, 2007 10:04 AM Page 1
o�= ��
Interdepartmental Memorandum
CITY OF SAINT PAUL
DATE: February 13, 2007
TO: Council Member Thune
FROM: Peter Warner, CAO
RE: Proposed Amendments to the Electronic Billboard Interim Ordinance set on for public
hearing on February�; 2007
�/
Council member Thune:
Attached please find some proposed amendments for the Council's consideration regarding
tomorrow's public hearing to consider the interim ordinance regulating electronic billboards. The
amendments are suggested by zoning staff and are requested by them as a way to clarify the type
of signage activity the City desires to regulate during the period the interim ordinance, if it is
adopted, is in effect. I agree with the recommendations and have signed off of the recommendations
"as to form.". Accordingly, I have incorporated the recommendations into the attached ordinance
which you may, if you so desire, offer as a substitute at tomorrow's hearings. The amendments do
not substantively modify the reach of the interim ordinance. Therefore, no addifional public
hearings are required based upon the amending language proposed in the attached subsUtute.
Finally, the additions are noted by underlined text. There is also a deletion noted by stri#eetif text
which conects a typo I failed to catch in the first draft submitted. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact me. PW W
cc: Jerry Hendrickson, CAO
AA-ADA-EEO Employer
�
Suspension 1/24/07
ORDINANCE
Council File # 07-74
GreenSheet# 3036432
An ordinance pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462355, Subd. 4 to
preserve the status quo pending the completion and report of a
study and possible action on the study including amending the
City's zoning ordinances regulating advertising signs as they may
pertain to retrofitting existing advertising signs with new "digital"
or "electronic" panels
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1
Statement of Le�slative Intent: The Council of the City of Saint Paul finds that it is once
again necessary to preserve the status quo regarding the City's regulaUon of advertising signs
which are more commonly referred to as "billboards." The Council finds that the outdoor
advertising sign industry has begun to reface existing billboard panels with new, electronic
panels some of which include digital technology. Digital technology permits billboards to
display an electronic image similar to a color television set. Digital technology further permits
the image displayed on the electronic billboard to quickly change from one image to another.
The Council finds that a billboard that has been resurfaced with electronic panels ufilizin� digital
technology does, or azguably may, substantially expand the impact of that billboard on
surrounding lands and uses.
The Council finds that it is therefore necessary to study the impact of these new electronic
billboards to determine whether there may be safety and aesthetic implications created by this
type of billboard that would be detrimental to the public health, welfare and safety.
The Council notes that the City's zoning code presently regulates "flashing" signs by prohibiting
them throughout the City and regulates "electronic message" signs by prohibiting them from
residential zoning districts and permitting them only in certain business and industrial districts
provided that the sign meets separation and display requirements. However, the Council finds
that the City's existing definitions and regulations as set forth in the zoning code may need to be
amended to codify its existing intent and purpose and also may be inadequate to regulate existing
billboards retrofitted with the new digital technology. Therefore, the Council finds that a
planning study is necessary to determine whether the City's existing zoning regulations are
adequate to regulate advertising signs utilizing digital technology or whether it is necessary to
adopt new regulations dealing with signs utilizing digital technology.
Accordingly, it is the desire of the Council of the City of Saint Paul to establish under this
interim ordinance, a moratorium protecting the general health, welfare and safety of the public
and preserving the status quo with respect to retrofitting existing billboazds with new digital or
electronic panels, pending the conclusion of a zoning study on the same and until such time as
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
the study has been reported to the Council and the effective date of any Council action on any
recommendations arising therefrom, by immediately prohibiting the issuance of any building or
zoning pernvt necessary to so retrofit any existing advertising or business sign within the
boundaries of the City.
Section 2
Moratorium Imuosed 1Vloratorium Imposed: on any parcel of land, lot, or part thereof within
the boundaries of the City pending the compietion of the said zoning study noted in Section 1
and action by the City Council on the said study, the issuance or approval of zoning and building
pernuts for retrofitting any advertising or business sign with new digital or electronic technology
of any type capable of creating electronic images on signs as discussed above, is prohibited until
the expiration of twelve months or until such eazlier time as the City Council has taken action on
the recommendations contained in the said study.
Section 3
Moratorium. Effective Date: The effective date of the moratorium enacted under this interim
ordinance is deemed to be as of the effective date of an accompanying Resolution pertaining to
the same subject.
Section 4
Effective Date of Interim Ordinance to Supercede and DischarEe the Council's Resolution
Pertainin�to the Same Matter: This interim ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30
days from and after its passage, approval and publication. Pending the effective date of this
interim ordinance, applications regazding permits for retrofitting any advertising or business sign
with new digital or electronic technology of any type capable of creating electronic images on
signs, as discussed is Section 1, within the boundaries of the City and regulated by this interim
ordinance, shall be processed in conformance with the terms and conditions set forth in a
companion Resolution. As of the effective date of this interim ordinance, the terms of the
companion Resolution shall be discharged without additional action of this Council.
07-74
Requested by Depamnent oP
Adopfion Certified by Comcil Secreiary
By:
Approved by Mayor: Date
By:
By:
Form Approved by City Attomey
B �.�G✓1-J�„�..�- 1-zY-��
Form Approved by Mayor for Submissiou to Couucil
By.
Adopted by Council: Da[e