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Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM – 1D <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: January 21, 2020 <br /> <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br /> Dave Perrault, City Administrator <br /> <br />FROM: Mike Mrosla, Community Development Manager/City Planner <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Non-Commercial Signs Discussion <br /> <br /> Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: <br /> N/A N/A N/A <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />At its December 16, 2019 meeting, the City Council directed staff to make necessary ordinance <br />changes to make political signs (non-commercial sign) consistent with existing temporary off- <br />premise signs placement standards. In addition, Council requested staff to review and bring the <br />ordinance into conformance with State statute for when signs may be placed. <br />Staff then proposed amendments to Chapter 12, Sign Code to clarify existing language to make <br />non-commercial signs in an election year consistent with placement standards of temporary off- <br />premise signs. The existing ordinance language for non-commercial signs was silent on placing <br />signs on publicly owned land and there was no roadway setbacks standards for non-commercial <br />signs. In addition, the existing language did not discuss prohibited signs placement locations. The <br />proposed language provides the same setback standards for non-commercial and temporary off- <br />site signs (five feet from the curb). <br />Then as staff reviewed the non-commercial sign code it determined that the existing ordinance <br />language was inconsistent with Minnesota State Statute 211B.045. Minnesota State Statute <br />211B.045 states: <br />“All noncommercial signs of any size may be posted in any number beginning 46 days before the <br />state primary in a state general election year until ten days following the state general election. <br />Municipal ordinances may regulate the size and number of noncommercial signs at other times.” <br />The existing ordinance language restricts the placement of non-commercial signs until August 1st <br />in an election year. However, Minnesota State Statute 211B.045 permits non-commercial signs to <br />be posted 46 days prior to the state primary election. Minnesota primary elections occur on the <br />second Tuesday of August in election years or on August 11, 2020. Per the statute, signs may be