TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jonathan R. Lewis, ICMA-CM, City Manager
TITLE: Petition No. TXT-14-127, second reading of Ordinance No. 2014-42, Amending Chapter 29, Sign Regulations, Section 29-10I. and adding provisions for changeable copy/electronic signs on billboards within the incorporated City limits.
Recommended Action
Approve Ordinance No. 2014-42 for adoption.
Background Information
The petition was advertised in a newspaper of general circulation within the City of North Port on October 14, 2014, March 10, 2015 and March 31, 2015 pursuant to the provisions of Section 166.041(3)(a), Florida Statutes and Section 9.01(b) of the Charter of the City of North Port, and Chapter 1, Article II, Section 1-12 of the City's Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) as amended.
The City Commission held a workshop on March 4, 2014 and September 25, 2014 to discuss changeable copy signs in North Port. Specifically, the Commission discussed the maximum allowable area of changeable copy/electronic signs on billboards and freestanding signs and the timing intervals for the electronic sign copy to change its message. At the September 25, 2014 workshop, staff presented a Power Point presentation and a draft ordinance of proposed changes to Chapter 29 Sign Regulations, Section 29-10I. At the direction of Commission, staff has incorporated these changes into the attached Ordinance No. 2014-42. These changes are as follows:
• Allow a maximum of 100% changeable copy for billboards on I-75
• Increase maximum allowance of changeable copy to 60% for freestanding signs
• Increasing the display time for changeable copy on freestanding signs from six (6) seconds to seven and one-half (7 ½) minutes
• To allow for subtle transitions for sign face
• Provisions to control brightness of signs
• Conditions for malfunctioning changeable copy/electronic signs
At its regularly scheduled meeting of November 6, 2014, The Planning and Zoning Advisory Board voted to recommend to the City Commission approval of Ordinance No. 2014-42, Petition No. TXT-14-127, Amending Chapter 29, Sign Regulations, Section 29-10 I. and adding provisions for changeable copy/electronic signs on billboards within the incorporated City limits. The motion failed unanimously on a zero-to-six (0-6) roll-call vote.
The Board stated their concerns with the display time increasing from six (6) seconds to seven and one-half (7½) minutes, as the Board felt that seven and one-half (7 ½) minutes was too long a time lapse for the sign face to change.
The Planning & Zoning Advisory Board moved to recommend to the City Commission to reconsider within a six month time period, the proposed changes to Ordinance No. 2014-42, TXT 14-127, amending Chapter 29, Sign Regulations, Section 29-10 I, and adding provisions for changeable copy/electronic signs on billboards within the incorporated City limits, with the express aim to incorporate more input from the local business community and technical community into the proposed changes; the motion was seconded and the motion carried unanimously on a six-to-zero (6-0) roll-call vote.
The City Commission considered Ordinance No. 2014-42, Petition No. TXT-14-127 at its November 24, 2014 regular meeting and voted unanimously (5-0) to table the ordinance to a Commission workshop in January 2015.
On January 29, 2015 at a third workshop regarding changeable copy/electronic signs, the Commission direction to staff regarding the sign Ordinance includes:
1) Changing the timing for changeable copy from seven and one-half minutes 7 ½ minutes for changeable copy to seven and one-half seconds 7 ½ seconds throughout the Ordinance;
2) Staff to research and propose a resolution requirement for changeable copy; and
3) Staff to research technology and legal criteria to add State issued alerts such as "Amber Alerts" to changeable copy signage.
It would not be necessary for the revised Ordinance to go before the Planning & Zoning Advisory Board prior to presenting to the Commission.
Based on Commission direction, Ordinance 2014-42 has been revised to change the timing of changeable copy from seven and one-half (7½) minutes to seven and one-half (7 ½) seconds and incorporate a maximum resolution requirement into the proposed ordinance.
The option for participating in the Amber/Silver Alerts notifications and to post on electronic/changeable copy signs is voluntary by the property owner.
At its regularly scheduled meeting of March 23, 2015, the City Commission voted 5-0 to approve Ordinance No. 2014-42, Petition No. TXT-14-127 to second reading.
Strategic Plan
Financially responsible city providing quality municipal services.
Financial Impact
Not Applicable
Procurement
Not Applicable
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2014-42
2. Staff report with exhibits
Prepared by: Sherry Willette-Grondin
Department Director: Scott Williams