CC - Agendas - City Council - REGULAR - 7/10/2012

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COUNCIL AGENDA MEMO - July 10, 2012 DEPARTMENT: Community Development AGENDA ITEM: Adoption of Resolution No. 4141-1301 establishing Campaign Sign Free Zone(s); and adoption of Ordinance No. 4839-1302 amending City Code Sections 8-2-3 and 8-2-4 to limit campaign signs in certain public rights-of-way Approved By: Date: Department Head: Tom Guice // City Manager: Craig McConnell d';✓�'! 6 'C.. 0 BACKGROUND Arizona Revised Statutes were amended last year to prohibit municipalities from banning campaign signs in public rights-of-way. Prescott, along with many other municipalities, has a ban of this type in its City Code. A provision of the statute (below) allows municipalities to declare certain parts of their communities as "campaign sign free zones" based upon a determination that such zones are essential to tourism. To declare a "campaign sign free zone," the City is required to adopt a resolution expressing the intent of the City Council and describing the reasons for the need for such a zone. A.R.S 16-1019 F. Subsection C does not apply to commercial tourism, commercial resort and hotel sign free zones as those zones are designated by municipalities. The total area of those zones shall not be larger than three square miles, and each zone shall be identified as a specific contiguous area where, by resolution of the municipal governing body, the municipality has determined that based on a predominance of commercial tourism, resort and hotel uses within the zone the placement of political signs within the rights-of-way in the zone will detract from the scenic and aesthetic appeal of the area within the zone and deter its appeal to tourists. Not more than two zones may be identified within a municipality. At their meeting of June 26th the City Council directed staff to move ahead with the necessary steps to create a campaign sign free zone. OPTIONS Several options are available for implementing one or two campaign sign free zones. Option A Create one campaign sign free zone covering all of the streets shown on the attached map by resolution, with an effective date of November 13, 2012; and amend the City Code by ordinance with an effective date of November 13, 2012. 1