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CITY OF GEM LAKE, RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA <br />ORDINANCE NO. 109 <br />AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SIGN REGULATIONS IN THE CITY OF <br />GEM LAKE, AND REPEALING PRIOR VERSIONS OF SIGN REGULATIONS. <br />'FITE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEM LAKE ORDAINS: <br />SECTION 1. Purpose and Intent. The purpose of Gem Lake sign regulation is to <br />promote thecreation of an attractive visual environment in the City. The regulations are <br />Intended to promote a healthy economy by allowing businesses and individuals to <br />effectivelyinform, identify, direct and communicate with the public using rights of way <br />in Genf Lake. This aim is balanced with an equal intent to foster public safety and <br />maintain an attractive built environment in the City by encouraging the appropriate <br />design, scale and placement of signs in the City. The regulations are intended to <br />encourage the orderly placement of signs, to assure that the information displayed on any <br />sign is clearly visible for its intended purpose, and tO allow the fair and consistent <br />enforcement of the sign regulations by the City of Gem Lake. <br />SECTION 2. Findings. The City Council concludes that it is necessary to regulate <br />signs in the City in order to promote and preserve public health, safety and welfare. That <br />conclusion is based upon the following findings: <br />2.1. Signs provide an important medium through which individuals and <br />businesses may convey a variety of tnessages.. <br />2.2. Signs can create hazards to motorists and pedestrians, particularly <br />when inappropriately designed or placed signs interfere with necessary sight <br />distances, divert the attention of drivers and pedestrians, or obscure directional <br />guidance or traffic control devices. <br />A positive sense of place and community image is important to the <br />health and welfare of individuals and businesses in Gem Lake. Community <br />image and aesthetic is also a key component of property values in the City. <br />Permanent and temporary signs have a direct impact on and relationship to the <br />image and aesthetic of thecomnmunity.. <br />2.4. UncontroIIed aid unlimited signs result in roadside clutter and <br />obstruction of views forr motorists and pedestrians, and diminish the ability of any <br />sign to effectively convey its intended message. <br />2.5. Properly regulated signage can create an atmosphere of prosperity, <br />stimulate positive commercial activity and consequently lead to increased. <br />employment, higher property values and a healthier tax;base. <br />Ordinance 109 draft 9/16/09 <br />