HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - POLITICAL SIGN ORD AMEND (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
December 9, 2008
AV 4_44e�
Carl Newton _V
POLITICAL SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council conduct second reading and adopt an ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING
CHAPTER 17.19 OF TITLE 17, SIGN REGULATIONS (PRIVATE PROPERTY), SECTION
17.19.230 "TEMPORARY FREESTANDING SIGNS" OF THE SANTA CLARITA
MUNICIPAL CODE CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF TEMPORARY
FREESTANDING CAMPAIGN SIGNS."
BACKGROUND
During a previous City Council meeting, Council directed the City Attorney's Office to review
the City's current political signage regulations. Specifically, Council directed the City Attorney's
Office to review the constitutionality of the City's current regulations regarding the quantity,
size, height, lighting, and removal of temporary freestanding political signs on private property.
In short, the City's ability to provide guidelines on temporary freestanding political signs are
limited per constitutional freedom of speech provisions. Therefore, staff recommends that the
Santa Clarita Municipal Code § 17.19.230 be amended to remove restrictions on quantity,
height, size, and removal of political signs on private property.
Currently, Santa Clarita Municipal Code § 17.19.230, permits one temporary freestanding sign
for each political candidate or issue per privately owned lot. In addition, the following provisions
currently apply to temporary free-standing political signs on private property:
Political signs are permitted for a maximum of four (4) feet in height.
Political signs on commercial, industrial, and private open space zones are permitted
for a maximum area of twelve (12) square feet.
Political signs in residential zones are permitted for a maximum area of six (6) square
feet.
Political signs are not permitted to be lighted in any fashion.
Political signs must be removed within seven (7) days after the election for which
they were intended.
Staff proposes that code section § 17.19.230 be amended to reflect that the quantity, height, size
and removal restriction of temporary freestanding political signs be removed from the ordinance.
The amendment of this code section retains the original prohibition of lighting of all temporary
free-standing signs. The lighting restrictions for temporary freestanding signs are considered
reasonable, and do not infringe on freedom of speech. The City's Community Preservation
Office will continue to enforce the lighting regulations.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact anticipated as a result of this amendment.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance -
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17.19 OF
TITLE 17 ,"SIGN REGULATIONS (PRIVATE PROPERTY), SECTION 17.19.230
TEMPORARY FREESTANDING SIGNS," OF THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE
CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF TEMPORARY FREESTANDING CAMPAIGN
SIGNS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA,
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Findings. The City Council finds that:
(a) The City of Santa Clarita has the right and authority to regulate certain aspects of
signage within the City.
(b) Such regulations are necessary to ensure that there is not a negative aesthetic impact
on the City.
(c) Such a negative aesthetic impact may foster a negative image of the City, which
relies heavily on attracting commercial and industrial businesses to sustain its economy.
(d) For all of these reasons, the provisions of this chapter are essential to protect the
public health, safety and welfare. (Ord. 94-8,6/14/94)
SECTION 2. Adoption of Chapter 17.19, Section 17.19.230. Chapter 17.19.230 Section
17.19.230 of Title 17 of the City of Santa Clarita Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:
"17.19.230 Temporary Freestanding Signs.
Temporary freestanding signs are permitted in all zones subject to the following regulations:
A. Number and Time Limits.
In the C, I and OS Zones. No temporary freestanding commercial signs permitted
at any time.
2. In the R Zone. No temporary freestanding commercial signs permitted at any time.
B. Area.
1. In the C, I and OS Zones. A maximum area of twelve (12) square feet shall be
permitted.
2. In the R Zone. A maximum area of six (6) square feet shall'be permitted.
C. Height. The maximum height shall be four (4) feet.
D. Location. Signs may be placed in the front yard or side yard of any property provided that
the signs do not encroach into any public right-of-way. Unless otherwise authorized in Chapter
17.19, temporary signs shall not extend over or into any public right-of-way, street, alley,
sidewalk or other public thoroughfare.
E. Lighting. Signs shall not be lighted."
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the terms, provisions or sections
of this Ordinance shall to any extent by judged invalid, unenforceable and/or voidable for any
reason whatsoever by a court of competent jurisdictions, then each and all of the remaining
terms, provisions and sections of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby and shall be valid
and enforceable.
SECTION 4. NON- EXCLUSIVITY. Nothing in this Ordinance shall limit or preclude
the enforcement of other applicable laws.
SECTION 5.EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after
its enactment in accord with California law.
SECTION 6. PUBLISHING. The City Clerk is directed to cause this Ordinance to be
published within 15 days of its passage in a newspaper of general circulation published and
circulated within the City of Santa Clarita.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this M day of 7L*-
, 2008.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
PA
u: $i
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Ordinance 08 *a was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on theday of -t, 2008. That thereafter, said
Ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the day
of EMM, 2008, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance * * * * * and
was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806).
CITY CLERK
3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
CERTIFICATION OF
CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE
I, Sharon L. Dawson, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that this is a true
and correct copy of the original Ordinance 08-M, adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Clarita, CA on �, 2008, which is now on file in my office.
Witness my hand and seal of the City of Santa Clarita, California, this day of
12008.
Sharon L. Dawson, MMC
City Clerk
By
Susan L. Caputo, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
a]