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There are a handful of businesses that use the manual changing message boards, which are classified separately from dynamic changing signs. These signs ean be seen at MeDonalds and Flaherty's bowling alley. Changeable message signs are quite popular with businesses but are not clearly addressed in the current Code. If specifieally permitted, Staff would reeommend limiting how much of a sign could be a manual ehanging message board (i.e. 35 percent or less). 3. Should the manual changing message boards be permitted? 4. Should internal window signs require a permit? Although the Sign Code regulates internal window signs and permits are teclmically required, Staff has had very little luck in obtaining sign permits for these types of signs because the signs change so frequently and very few complaints are made. Therefore, Staff feels that it is worth a diseussion to determine if permits are actually practical and should be required. While Staff is comfortable removing the permit requirement, Staff would still recommend that the Sign Code retain the regulations that limit the amount of window area that can be covered with signs. This only refers to signs placed inside of a building and facing out. A banner placed over a window on the outside of a building would still require a permit. 5. What is the appropriate time limit for a temporary sign? The current side code is somewhat unclear in how many times a property can have a temporary sign. The temporary sign is clearly limited to 30 days, but past interpretations have suggested that a property could have multiple signs for 30 days each time. In order to remove any confusion on this limitation, Staff is recommending that the Code be amended to state that a property or business can have a temporary sign on three occasions per calendar year with a maximum of ten days of display for each oceasion. The permits could be used conseeutively. 6. Should businesses with grand openings and space for rent be allowed to have additional temporary signage? While the City cannot regulate the content of a message, the City can allow properties with new business grand openings and vacancies to have alternative temporary sign regulations. For discussion purposes, these regulations have been included in Section 1250.02 Subd 4 and 5. Preliminary Recommended Chanl!es to the Sil!n Code The attached amended Sign Code shows the proposed changes, additions, and deletions. This section outlines the significant or notable proposed changes to the Sign Code. There are only a City of Arden Hills City Council Work Session for February 19,2008 \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhillslPlanninglPlanning Cases\2008\08.004 Sign Code (UPCOMING) \021908 - CC WS Report- Sign Code Update.doc Page 3 of6