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it ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—MARCH 17, 2014 9 reviewed by the Planning Commission are sign standard adjustments and this could be streamlined by reviewing and making appropriate revisions to the City's Sign Ordinance. Councilmember Holden recommended that the Commission consider the base size for monument signs when the sign standards are reviewed. Commissioner Bartel wanted to see more structure in the sign code as this would provide further guidance to the Commission when reviewing requests for sign standard adjustments. Councilmember McClung believed that even if the Sign Code was amended, there would always be future applicants requesting additional signage. Commissioner Bartel explained that b making the sign sizes proportionate to building sizes, this p Y g would address a number of the requests for sign standard adjustments. He was in favor of temporary sign requests being approved at a staff level. Commissioner Jones suggested that the number of tenants within a building and the size of the parking lot be considered in the Sign Code. Councilmember Holden stated that the Sign Ordinance was developed due to the number of large sign requests. She reported that Arden Hills did not want to become a neon lit community with extremely large signs. Mayor Grant reported that a level of flexibility could be written into the Sign Code, however, there had to be a limit. He asked if the Council opposed the Planning Commission reviewing the Sign Ordinance. The Council supported the Commission moving forward with reviewing the Sign Ordinance. Mayor Grant discussed LED lighting and recommended that the City and Planning Commission get out in front of this issue. He suggested that staff speak with neighboring communities regarding the regulation of LED lighting. Vice Chair Thompson agreed. Councilmember Holden questioned which aspects of LED lighting would be reviewed by the Planning Commission. Vice Chair Thompson indicated that this has yet to be determined by the Planning Commission. City Planner Streff anticipated that this would include LED lighting on canopies and signs. Community Development Director Hutmacher reported that more and more businesses were changing light fixtures out from incandescent or fluorescent to LED's for cost saving measures. She distinguished between LED's used for traditional lighting purposes and LED's used in a neon-like manner as decorative accents.