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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />~ <br />EN HILLS <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />Agenda Item 2F <br /> <br />February 13,2006 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Mayor and Council <br />Michelle Wolfe, City Administrator <br /> <br />Karen Barton, Community Development Director~ <br /> <br />"'ROM: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Proposed Sign Moratorium <br /> <br />Several months ago, the cities of Eden Prairie and Hopkins found themselves facing lawsuits <br />related to their sign ordinances. At issue is the limitation of free speech through restriction of <br />sign content. <br /> <br />These cases are still litigating, however, should the cities lose, their entire sign ordinances will <br />likely be struck down resulting in the plaintiffs being allowed to put up signage without <br />placement, size, lighting, or height restrictions. <br /> <br />Arden Hills City staff is in the process of amending our sign ordinance to be consistent with <br />recent changes' in Minnesota Statutes, to be consistent with recent case law in Minnesota, to <br />resolve any doubt that the City's policies and procedures do not inappropriately restrict free <br />expression, to match ordinance to practice, and to make requirements less broad and more <br />specific. This process is anticipated to take six to twelve months to complete. <br /> <br />Given that the City is potentially open to litigation with our Sign Ordinance in its present form <br />and that it will take a pcriod of several months to amend our sign ordinance, staff is requesting <br />the City Council consider implementing a sign moratorium on all new permanent sign <br />applications, for a period not to exceed 12 months. <br /> <br />e IIEarthlPl,nninglForrnslCity Council Memo Fonndoc <br />