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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: September 6, 2017 LEGISLATION
SUBJECT: AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING PRIOR INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE
1934 RE INTERIM REGULATIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF TEMPORARY SIGNS IN THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AMENDING SECTION
93.20.09.B.5, AND SUSPENDING SECTIONS 93.20.03.25, 93.20.07,
93.20.08, AND 93.20.10.C.4 OF, THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL
CODE, TO NOVEMBER 10, 2017. (4/5ths Vote Required).
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Edward Z. Kotkin, City Attorney
SUMMARY
The City adopted its current interim urgency ordinance regarding temporary signage,
Ordinance 1934, on July 19, 2017. Staff has determined that certain aspects of the interim
urgency ordinance require modification to enhance the interim regulations' applicability
consistent with the Council's direction and in the City's best interest. These modifications
will not extend the term of Ordinance 1934, which will expire on or before November 10,
2017. Prior to that date, the City Council will have the opportunity to introduce and adopt
a comprehensive overhaul to the City's sign ordinance that updates regulations and
conforms to applicable federal law in its content neutrality. The amendment to the interim
urgency ordinance proposed at this time makes it a more effective tool to regulate
temporary signage in the City, adheres to concepts discussed by the Council on July 19,
2017, and reflects staffs effort to transition to the new comprehensive sign ordinance
from the best platform possible.
RECOMMENDATION
Waive the reading of the text in its entirety, read by title only, and adopt Ordinance No.
"AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING PRIOR INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE 1934 RE
INTERIM REGULATIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
TEMPORARY SIGNS IN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
EXCEPTIONS, AMENDING SECTION 93.20.09.B.5, AND SUSPENDING SECTIONS
93.20.03.25, 93.20.07, 93.20.08, AND 93.20.10.C.4 OF, THE PALM SPRINGS
MUNICIPAL CODE, TO NOVEMBER 10, 2017. (4/5ths Vote Required)."
rMM NO.
City Council Staff Report
July 19, 2017 -- Page 2
Interim Urgency Ordinance—Temporary Signs
STAFF ANALYSIS
The City remains in the process of completing a significant project - the revision and
update of its sign ordinance. The City Council has provided direction with respect to
revisions that had to be made to the last iteration of the comprehensive sign ordinance
overhaul, presented to the Council on May 17, 2017. Upon staffs completion of design
guidelines that will ensure the implementation of the sign ordinance pursuant to Council
direction, the sign ordinance will return to the agenda for approval.
On several occasions, the Council has adopted and re-adopted an interim urgency
ordinance to preserve essential elements of the City's existing sign ordinance pertaining
to temporary signs, modified for consistency with applicable law. Like the new
comprehensive sign ordinance, the interim urgency ordinance incorporates standards
based on time, place, and manner considerations, and minimizes standards based on the
content. The current interim urgency ordinance adopted on July 19, 2017 expires on
November 10, 2017. This term still allows adequate time for staff to complete the work
necessary to prepare what should be the last iteration of the City's new sign ordinance
and the referenced design guidelines. No extension of the term is requested.
As a reminder, the Council has four (4) times adopted an interim urgency ordinance
similar in general character to that proposed now. In each instance, the purpose of the
interim urgency ordinance has been the same—to regulate temporary signage in the best
manner practicable, and allow the City adequate time to adopt a new sign ordinance. The
data on the prior interim urgency ordinances is as follows:
Date Ordinance Effective Dates
5/18/16 1893 5/18/16— 1/20/17
1/4/17 1912 1/4/17 — 5/5/17
4/5/17 1922 4/5/17 — 7/21/17
7/19/17 1934 7/19/17-11/10/17
As is reflected, the Council's most recent consideration of an interim urgency ordinance
took place on July 19, 2017. A legislative draft of the proposed interim urgency ordinance
is attached to this report as ATTACHMENT A. This draft shows revisions from Ordinance
1934. The proposed interim urgency ordinance is attached to this report as
ATTACHMENT B.
The substantive changes in Ordinance 1934 may be described as follows:
• Stray and incorrect references to "portable open signs" are fixed to simply
reference "portable signs;"
• Banners, pennants, pin wheels, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs,
inflatables, or similar devices intended for a limited period of display previously
identified as"portable signs" are now referenced correctly as one kind of temporary
sign, subject to special permit application standards that prevent nuisances,
impediments to pedestrian traffic, and ADA violations; 02
City Council Staff Report
July 19, 2017-- Page 3
Interim Urgency Ordinance—Temporary Signs
• Exceptions to dimensional requirements of temporary signs are identified;
• Temporary signs approved under the interim urgency ordinance, with the
exception of portable signs and special event signs, are given a specific permit
term consistent with the City's established practice (thirty [30] days, with a single
possible extension of equal duration) - prior versions of the interim urgency
ordinance did not specify any term for temporary signs;
Temporary signs are generally prohibited for placement on public right-of-way, as
opposed to completely prohibited;
• Portable signs, identified as a specific kind of temporary sign, may be installed and
maintained on public right-of-way subject to the criteria that now provide that
sidewalk right-of-way placement is acceptable, but as close to the building as
possible, and in no event less than 3 feet from any street or parking curb;
• Portable signs are allowed throughout the City, as opposed to limited to placement
in downtown and uptown; and
• Portable signs will have a permit term that ends thirty (30) days after the term of
the interim urgency ordinance to ensure a smooth transition for permit holders to
the City's new comprehensive sign ordinance.
The existing interim urgency ordinance expires on November 10, 2017. Although this
Interim Urgency Ordinance will be effective immediately, the new sign ordinance will take
longer to go into effect after its introduction (approval on first reading). Since the Council
will meet at a special meeting on September 26, 2017 and then again at a regular meeting
on October 4, 2017, and presuming that the Council introduces the comprehensive sign
ordinance at the former meeting and adopts it at the latter meeting, the new sign
ordinance will be effective on November 3, 2017. Staff recommends that the term of this
interim urgency ordinance extend to a date consistent with Ordinance 1934, until
November 10, 2017.
Staff reminds the Council that in order to adopt this Interim Urgency Ordinance, the
Council must make findings that adoption is necessary for the immediate protection of the
public peace, health, and safety by ensuring the timely and orderly consideration,
adoption, and implementation of temporary sign regulations compliant with the
constitutional guidelines of the Supreme Court, and reasonably preserving an orderly and
balanced temporary sign program during the election cycles of 2017, where the
proliferation of temporary signs would otherwise adversely affect public property and
rights of way, and endanger the traveling public.
ALTERNATIVES
Reject this interim urgency ordinance maintain Ordinance 1934 with the understanding
that the changes reflected in this staff report and in the proposed ordinance will not be
made.
03
City Council Staff Report
July 19, 2017-- Page 4
Interim Urgency Ordinance—Temporary Signs
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DETERMINATION:
There is no possibility the adoption of this Ordinance will have a significant effect on the
environment. This Ordinance is therefore exempt from environmental review
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)
of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
FISCAL IMPACT
Not analyzed herein.
Edward Z. Kotkin, Marcus L. Fuller, MPA, P.E., P.L.S.,
City Attorney Assistant City Manager
David H. Ready, Es .,
City Manager
Attachments:
A. Legislative Draft Showing Revisions from Ordinance 1934
B. Proposed Interim Urgency Ordinance
04
ATTACHMENT A
05
ORDINANCE NO.
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA AMENDING PRIOR
INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE 1934 RE INTERIM
REGULATIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF TEMPORARY SIGNS IN THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS,
AMENDING SECTION 93.20.09.B.5, AND SUSPENDING
SECTIONS 93.20.03.25, 93.20.07, 93.20.08, AND
93.20.10.C.4 OF, THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE,
TO NOVEMBER 10, 2017. (4/5T"s Vote Required).
City Attorney Summary
The City currently enforces a myriad of regulations relating to the installation
and maintenance of various temporary signs both on private property and
the public right-of-way. These regulations are based on significant policy
concerns and past practices. Case law calls into aspects of the City's
temporary sign regulatory program into question. This interim urgency
ordinance amends the interim constitutional regulations adopted several
times with respect to temporary signs, pending finalization of the City's
comprehensive update to its sign ordinance ensuring equitable and
reasonable application of the interim City standards for residents and
businesses throughout the City, and as a general matter during the
upcoming election cycle. This interim urgency ordinance accomplishes
these goals while providing the City Council adequate time to review,
consider, and adopt appropriate and necessary time, place, and manner
restrictions for temporary signs in the City as recommended by staff.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA, FINDS:
A. The City is responsible for providing appropriate and necessary time, place, and
manner restrictions on temporary signs in the City.
B. This Interim Urgency Ordinance provides a necessary update to the City's interim
set of constitutional regulations previously adopted via Interim Urgency Ordinances 1893,
1912, 1922 and 1934: it addresses logistic problems that have come to the attention of
City staff related to temporary signage.
C. Adoption of this Interim Urgency Ordinance provides staff with adequate time to
complete a long term project undertaken at the City Council's direction, to wit, the review
consideration and adoption of updated appropriate and necessary time, place, and
manner restrictions for temporary signage, an essential element of the City's
comprehensive new sign ordinance, as well as reasonable design standards to ensure
the quality of all temporary signage and inure to the benefit of residents, businesses and
visitors.
06
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 2
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,
ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The provisions of Palm Springs Municipal Code Sections
93.20.03.25 (Definitions—Portable Open Sign), 93.20.07 (Permitted Signs— Real Estate),
93.20.08 (Permitted Signs — Temporary), and 93.20.10.C.4 (Signs on Vehicles) are
hereby suspended during the period of time this Interim Ungency Ordinance remains in
effect.
SECTION 2. The following additional definitions shall apply to this Interim Urgency
Ordinance:
"Special Event" is any single event or series of events that occur on an infrequent
basis and take place at a specific location in which the public is encouraged or invited to
watch, listen, participate, or purchase goods and/or services, including, but not limited to,
the following:
a. Commercial sales, including pre- and post-holiday sales;
b. Arts and crafts shows, trade shows, antique shows, and other similar
events;
C. Carnivals, fairs, circuses, and similar activities;
d. Outdoor shows, concerts, and exhibitions;
e. Annual events
"Temporary sign" is any sign, handbill, or poster which is placed to advertise or
announce a special event, or which pertains to a particular event or occurrence, or which
is not permanently anchored or secured to a building and not having supports or braces
permanently secured in the ground, including but not limited to "portable epeR signs" as
provided for in this Interim Urgency Ordinance, "political signs," "election signs," and "real
estate signs." Banners, pennants, pin wheels, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs,
inflatables, or similar devices intended for a limited period of display shall also be
considered a peFtable-temporary signs. The term "temporary signs" does not include any
sign posted, erected, or installed by the City, the County of Riverside, the State of
California, or any other government agency or public utility in the exercise of its
responsibilities or in furtherance of governmental speech.
SECTION 3. Signs on Vehicles. No person shall drive, operate, move in or along,
or park on any street or on public or private property, any truck, trailer, carriage, wagon,
sled, or other vehicle on which is attached or maintained any sign except as otherwise
permitted pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 21100(p)(2), as may be amended
from time to time.
07
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 3
SECTION 4. Temporary Signs.
A. A.Upon issuance of a City permit, uUp to two (2) free-standing temporary
signs of up to eight (8) square feet or one free-standing temporary sign of up to sixteen
(16) square and/or one window sign of no more than four (4) square feet may be
maintained on one single family property or on commercial, industrial, or multifamily
property. The seletwo (2) exceptions to these -64e--dimensional restrictions upon
temporary signs shall be (i) portable signs, permitted in accordance with Section
93.20.09.B.5 as amended by Section 6 of this Interim Urgency Ordinance, and (ii)
temporary signs consistent with Section 4.G. of this Interim Urgency Ordinance. Only one
(1) of the temporary signs allowed hereunder may be such a portable sign or a temporary
sign permitted under Section 4.G.
B. A temporary sign associated with a special event shall not be installed more than
thirty-one (31) days before the event and shall be removed no later than five (5) days
after the event.
A.C. Temporary signs with the sole--exceptions of 01 portable signs permitted in
accordance with Section 93.20.09.B.5 as amended by Section 6 of this Interim Urgency
Ordinance and ii temporary signs associated with a special event, may be permitted for
a period of up to thirty (30) days. An extension of time may be granted for an additional
thirty (30) days.
43. Temporary signs in commercial and industrial zones shall be governed by the
same rules and regulations set forth in Section 93.20.05 that govern commercial and
industrial signs. No limitation or restriction on signage established in Section 93.20.05
shall be modified by the City's issuance of a temporary sign permit.
The total signage at env nart's Jar nreneFty, innl ,rl'nn temnorani signs and other signs
shall not eXGeed the Festrictions set forth in SeGtaon 93.20.05.
EG. Temporary signs in multi-family residential zones shall be governed by the same
rules and regulations set forth in Section 93.20.06 that govern hotel, resort hotel, and
apartment signs. No limitation or restriction on signage established in Section 93.20.06
shall be modified by the City's issuance of a temporary sign permit.
The total amount of signage at any nartiGular t s and
property, 6�rtinn om noran sign
, ino
Cher signs shall net evseed the r �'restr'stiens set forth in estion OQ n�22
y
FB. Temporary signs, with the sole exception of "portable signs" permitted in
accordance with Section 93.20.09.B.5 as amended by Section 6 of this Ordinance, shall
not be installed or maintained on any public right-of--way_-er
G. Banners pennants pin wheels ribbons streamers, strings of light bulbs,
inflatables or similar devices intended for a limited period of display that are deemed a
"temporary sign" hereunder shall only be permitted when the applicant seeking to use
08
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 4
such a temporary sign submits a photograph or other to-scale graphic representation of
the temporary sign in question that allows the City to determine that the proposed
temporary sign does not create a nuisance, impede pedestrian traffic, or eliminate a 48-
inch clear paved pathway for ADA access must be maintained at all times.
HG. Except as otherwise provided by this Interim Urgency Ordinance, temporary signs
shall not be installed or maintained under any circumstances on any public property,
including without limitation trees, public utility poles, and street signs. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Ordinance, temporary signs shall only be placed on
private property with the written consent of the property owner.
IHE. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as prohibiting any person from carrying a
temporary sign within a public right-of-way as allowed in Section 11.28.050 of this Code.
SECTION 5 The first sentence of Section 93.20.09 of the Palm Springs Municipal
Code to wit the preamble reflected before the enumeration of the lettered and numbered
subdivisions and subsections thereof, is amended to read:
With the exception of Section 93.20.09.B.5, which Section as adopted by this
Ordinance shall apply throughout the entire City, the following regulations and guidelines
shall apply in Redevelopment Project Areas 1 & 6 only. In the event of a conflict between
these provisions and the remainder of the sign ordinance these provisions shall prevail.
SECTION 56. Section 93.20.09.B.5 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code is
amended to read:
5. Portable Signs.
Except where another permitted outdoor display has been authorized (postcard rack, art
displays, etc.), upon issuance of a City permit, one (1) portable open sign is allowed for
each tenant space for a term that will expire thirty (30) days after this Interim Urgency
Ordinance expires or is otherwise terminated, -subject to the following requirements:
a. One (1) portable open sign is allowed per tenant space. Multiple businesses within
a single tenant space shall be limited to one (1) portable sign overall.
b. A portable open- sign may only be placed between a public entry into the tenant
space and the nearest fronting street or parking drive aisle. The portable sign may be
placed in the sidewalk public right-of-way, as close to the building as possible and in no
event less than 3 feet from any street or parking curb; however, in no case may any sign
09
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 5
impede pedestrian traffic. A 48-inch wide clear paved pathway for ADA access must be
maintained at all times.
C. A portable open sign shall not exceed 42 inches in height and 32 inches in width.
The sign may be two-sided.
d. The sign frame may be a single- or two-pole metal frame, or it may be an A-frame.
The sign may be either chrome, black or white.
e. The sign frame shall include a heavy base to prevent unintended movement
caused by wind or other minimal force. Signs which require additional weighting
(sandbag, concrete block, etc.) are not allowed.
f. The sign copy shall be produced professionally — signs created by hand or home
computer software are not allowed.
g. No lighting, balloons, or other attachments are allowed.
h. The Director of Planning Services shall prepare and implement administrative
rules, regulations, and guidelines consistent with, and in furtherance of, the provisions of
this Subsection.
SECTION 76. —. Message Substitution.
A. Subject to the consent of the land owner and the sign owner, a constitutionally
protected noncommercial message of any type may be substituted, in whole or in part, in
place of any commercial message or any other noncommercial message on a sign if the
sign structure or mounting device is legal without consideration of message content.
Similarly, an onsite commercial message may be substituted for another commercial
message on an on-site sign if the substitution does not also involve a change of the
physical structure or mounting device for the sign. Such message substitutions may be
made without any additional approval or permitting.
B. The purposes of this Ssection 6 of this Interim Urgency Ordinance is afe-to prevent
any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech or of any
particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message and to allow
a change of commercial messages on an on-site sign without a new permit.
C. This Ssection 6 does not create a right to increase the total amount of signage on
a parcel, nor does it affect the requirement that a sign structure or mounting device be
properly permitted. This section does not allow the substitution of an off-site commercial
message in place of an on-site commercial message or the conversion of a sign to general
10
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 6
advertising for hire.
D. In addition to message substitution, whenever a parcel has a right to display area
that is unused, that area may be used for constitutionally protected non-commercial
messages on temporary signs, without permits or approvals; it may also be used for
display of noncommercial messages on permanent structures, if the structure is properly
permitted.
E. This Section supersedes and prevails over any more specific contrary or
inconsistent provision to the seR#aity within the City's sign ordinance.
SECTION 87. CEQA. The City Council finds that it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility the adoption of this Ordinance will have a significant
effect on the environment. This Ordinance is therefore exempt from environmental review
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)
of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
SECTION 98. Findings. The adoption of this amendment to
Interim Urgency Ordinance Nos. 1893, 'o" and 19221934 is necessary for the
immediate protection of the public peace, health, and safety by ensuring the timely and
orderly consideration, adoption, and implementation of temporary sign regulations
compliant with the constitutional guidelines of the Supreme Court, and reasonably
preservinges an orderly and balanced temporary sign program during the election cycles
of 2017, where the proliferation of temporary signs would otherwise adversely affect
public property and rights of way, and endanger the traveling public. In accordance with
Section 312 of the Palm Springs City Charter, the City Council of the City of Palm Springs
finds and determines that the adoption of this Interim Urgency Ordinance is necessary to
ensure the immediate protection of the public peace, health, and safety.
SECTION 109. Effective Date. The City Council hereby declares, on the
basis of the findings set forth in the true and correct Recitals above, incorporated by this
reference herein, and in Section 98 above, that an urgency ordinance is warranted and
that this Interim Urgency Ordinance is necessary to preserve the public peace, health and
safety. Accordingly, this Interim Urgency Ordinance is adopted as are urgency
GF& aasesuch, and shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its adoption. This
Interim Urgency Ordinance shall expire on November 10, 2017 unless otherwise
extended by action of the City Council prior to such date.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS CITY
COUNCIL THIS 6th nth-DAY OF jW= SEPTEMBER, 2017.
ATTEST: ROBERT MOON, MAYOR
� 1
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 7
KATHLEEN D. HART, MMC
INTERIM CITY CLERK
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, KATHLEEN D. HART, Interim City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby
certify that Interim Urgency Ordinance No. is a full, true and correct copy, and
adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 49'h-61h day of dtoSeptember,
2017, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
KATHLEEN D. HART, MMC
INTERIM CITY CLERK
12
ATTACHMENT B
ORDINANCE NO.
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING PRIOR
INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE 1934 RE INTERIM
REGULATIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF TEMPORARY SIGNS IN THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS,
AMENDING SECTION 93.20.09.B.5, AND SUSPENDING
SECTIONS 93.20.03.25, 93.20.07, 93.20.08, AND
93.20.10.C.4 OF, THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE,
TO NOVEMBER 10, 2017. (4/5T"S Vote Required).
City Attorney Summary
The City currently enforces a myriad of regulations relating to the installation
and maintenance of various temporary signs both on private property and
the public right-of-way. These regulations are based on significant policy
concerns and past practices. Case law calls into aspects of the City's
temporary sign regulatory program into question. This interim urgency
ordinance amends the interim constitutional regulations adopted several
times with respect to temporary signs, pending finalization of the City's
comprehensive update to its sign ordinance, ensuring equitable and
reasonable application of the interim City standards for residents and
businesses throughout the City, and as a general matter during the
upcoming election cycle. This interim urgency ordinance accomplishes
these goals while providing the City Council adequate time to review,
consider, and adopt appropriate and necessary time, place, and manner
restrictions for temporary signs in the City as recommended by staff.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, FINDS:
A. The City is responsible for providing appropriate and necessary time, place, and
manner restrictions on temporary signs in the City.
B. This Interim Urgency Ordinance provides a necessary update to the City's interim
set of constitutional regulations previously adopted via Interim Urgency Ordinances 1893,
1912, 1922 and 1934; it addresses logistic problems that have come to the attention of
City staff related to temporary signage.
C. Adoption of this Interim Urgency Ordinance provides staff with adequate time to
complete a long term project undertaken at the City Council's direction, to wit, the review
consideration, and adoption of updated appropriate and necessary time, place, and
manner restrictions for temporary signage, an essential element of the City's
comprehensive new sign ordinance, as well as reasonable design standards to ensure
the quality of all temporary signage and inure to the benefit of residents, businesses and
visitors.
14
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 2
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,
ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The provisions of Palm Springs Municipal Code Sections
93.20.03.25 (Definitions—Portable Open Sign), 93.20.07 (Permitted Signs— Real Estate),
93.20.08 (Permitted Signs — Temporary), and 93.20.10.C.4 (Signs on Vehicles) are
hereby suspended during the period of time this Interim Urgency Ordinance remains in
effect.
SECTION 2. The following additional definitions shall apply to this Interim Urgency
Ordinance:
"Special Event" is any single event or series of events that occur on an infrequent
basis and take place at a specific location in which the public is encouraged or invited to
watch, listen, participate, or purchase goods and/or services, including, but not limited to,
the following:
a. Commercial sales, including pre- and post-holiday sales;
b. Arts and crafts shows, trade shows, antique shows, and other similar
events;
C. Carnivals, fairs, circuses, and similar activities;
d. Outdoor shows, concerts, and exhibitions;
e. Annual events
"Temporary sign" is any sign, handbill, or poster which is placed to advertise or
announce a special event, or which pertains to a particular event or occurrence, or which
is not permanently anchored or secured to a building and not having supports or braces
permanently secured in the ground, including but not limited to "portable signs" as
provided for in this Interim Urgency Ordinance, "political signs," "election signs," and "real
estate signs." Banners, pennants, pin wheels, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs,
inflatables, or similar devices intended for a limited period of display shall also be
considered temporary signs. The term "temporary signs" does not include any sign
posted, erected, or installed by the City, the County of Riverside, the State of California,
or any other government agency or public utility in the exercise of its responsibilities or in
furtherance of governmental speech.
SECTION 3. Signs on Vehicles. No person shall drive, operate, move in or along,
or park on any street or on public or private property, any truck, trailer, carriage, wagon,
sled, or other vehicle on which is attached or maintained any sign except as otherwise
permitted pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 21100(p)(2), as may be amended
from time to time.
SECTION 4. Temporary Signs.
A. Upon issuance of a City permit, up to two (2) free-standing temporary signs of up
to eight (8) square feet or one free-standing temporary sign of up to sixteen (16) square
and/or one window sign of no more than four (4) square feet may be maintained on one
single family property or on commercial, industrial, or multifamily property. The two (2)
15
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Page 3
exceptions to these dimensional restrictions upon temporary signs shall be (i) portable
signs, permitted in accordance with Section 93.20.09.B.5 as amended by Section 6 of
this Interim Urgency Ordinance, and (H) temporary signs consistent with Section 4.G. of
this Interim Urgency Ordinance. Only one (1) of the temporary signs allowed hereunder
may be such a portable sign or a temporary sign permitted under Section 4.G.
B. A temporary sign associated with a special event shall not be installed more than
thirty-one (31) days before the event and shall be removed no later than five (5) days
after the event.
C. Temporary signs, with the exceptions of (i) portable signs permitted in accordance
with Section 93.20.09.B.5 as amended by Section 6 of this Interim Urgency Ordinance
and (ii) temporary signs associated with a special event, may be permitted for a period of
up to thirty (30) days. An extension of time may be granted for an additional thirty (30)
days.
D. Temporary signs in commercial and industrial zones shall be governed by the
same rules and regulations set forth in Section 93.20.05 that govern commercial and
industrial signs. No limitation or restriction on signage established in Section 93.20.05
shall be modified by the City's issuance of a temporary sign permit.
E. Temporary signs in multi-family residential zones shall be governed by the same
rules and regulations set forth in Section 93.20.06 that govern hotel, resort hotel, and
apartment signs. No limitation or restriction on signage established in Section 93.20.06
shall be modified by the City's issuance of a temporary sign permit.
F. Temporary signs, with the sole exception of "portable signs" permitted in
accordance with Section 93.20.09.B.5 as amended by Section 6 of this Ordinance, shall
not be installed or maintained on any public right-of-way.
G. Banners, pennants, pin wheels, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs,
inflatables, or similar devices intended for a limited period of display that are deemed a
"temporary sign" hereunder shall only be permitted when the applicant seeking to use
such a temporary sign submits a photograph or other to-scale graphic representation of
the temporary sign in question that allows the City to determine that the proposed
temporary sign does not create a nuisance, impede pedestrian traffic, or eliminate a 48-
inch clear paved pathway for ADA access must be maintained at all times.
H. Except as otherwise provided by this Interim Urgency Ordinance, temporary signs
shall not be installed or maintained under any circumstances on any public property,
including without limitation trees, public utility poles, and street signs. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Ordinance, temporary signs shall only be placed on
private property with the written consent of the property owner.
I. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as prohibiting any person from carrying a
temporary sign within a public right-of-way as allowed in Section 11.28.050 of this Code.
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SECTION 5. The first sentence of Section 93.20.09 of the Palm Springs Municipal
Code, to wit, the preamble reflected before the enumeration of the lettered and numbered
subdivisions and subsections thereof, is amended to read:
With the exception of Section 93.20.09.B.5, which Section, as adopted by this
Ordinance, shall apply throughout the entire City, the following regulations and guidelines
shall apply in Redevelopment Project Areas 1 & 6 only. In the event of a conflict between
these provisions and the remainder of the sign ordinance, these provisions shall prevail.
SECTION 6. Section 93.20.09.6.5 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code is
amended to read:
5. Portable Signs.
Except where another permitted outdoor display has been authorized (postcard rack, art
displays, etc.), upon issuance of a City permit, one (1) portable sign is allowed for each
tenant space, for a term that will expire thirty (30) days after this Interim Urgency
Ordinance expires or is otherwise terminated, subject to the following requirements:
a. One (1) portable sign is allowed per tenant space. Multiple businesses within a
single tenant space shall be limited to one (1) portable sign overall.
b. A portable sign may only be placed between a public entry into the tenant space
and the nearest fronting street or parking drive aisle. The portable sign may be placed in
the sidewalk public right-of-way, as close to the building as possible, and in no event less
than 3 feet from any street or parking curb; however, in no case may any sign impede
pedestrian traffic. A 48-inch wide clear paved pathway for ADA access must be
maintained at all times.
C. A portable sign shall not exceed 42 inches in height and 32 inches in width. The
sign may be two-sided.
d. The sign frame may be a single- or two-pole metal frame, or it may be an A-frame.
The sign may be either chrome, black or white.
e. The sign frame shall include a heavy base to prevent unintended movement
caused by wind or other minimal force. Signs which require additional weighting
(sandbag, concrete block, etc.) are not allowed.
f. The sign copy shall be produced professionally — signs created by hand or home
computer software are not allowed.
g. No lighting, balloons, or other attachments are allowed.
h. The Director of Planning Services shall prepare and implement administrative
rules, regulations, and guidelines consistent with, and in furtherance of, the provisions of
this Subsection.
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SECTION 7. Message Substitution.
A. Subject to the consent of the land owner and the sign owner, a constitutionally
protected noncommercial message of any type may be substituted, in whole or in part, in
place of any commercial message or any other noncommercial message on a sign if the
sign structure or mounting device is legal without consideration of message content.
Similarly, an onsite commercial message may be substituted for another commercial
message on an on-site sign if the substitution does not also involve a change of the
physical structure or mounting device for the sign. Such message substitutions may be
made without any additional approval or permitting.
B. The purpose of this Section 6 of this Interim Urgency Ordinance is to prevent any
inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech or of any
particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message and to allow
a change of commercial messages on an on-site sign without a new permit.
C. This Section 6 does not create a right to increase the total amount of signage on
a parcel, nor does it affect the requirement that a sign structure or mounting device be
properly permitted. This section does not allow the substitution of an off-site commercial
message in place of an on-site commercial message or the conversion of a sign to general
advertising for hire.
D. In addition to message substitution, whenever a parcel has a right to display area
that is unused, that area may be used for constitutionally protected non-commercial
messages on temporary signs, without permits or approvals; it may also be used for
display of noncommercial messages on permanent structures, if the structure is properly
permitted.
E. This Section supersedes and prevails over any more specific contrary or
inconsistent provision to within the City's sign ordinance.
SECTION 8. CEQA. The City Council finds that it can be seen with certainty that
there is no possibility the adoption of this Ordinance will have a significant effect on the
environment. This Ordinance is therefore exempt from environmental review
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)
of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
SECTION 9. Findings. The adoption of this amendment to Interim Urgency
Ordinance No. 1934 is necessary for the immediate protection of the public peace, health,
and safety by ensuring the timely and orderly consideration, adoption, and
implementation of temporary sign regulations compliant with the constitutional guidelines
of the Supreme Court, and reasonably preserving an orderly and balanced temporary
sign program during the election cycles of 2017, where the proliferation of temporary
signs would otherwise adversely affect public property and rights of way, and endanger
the traveling public. In accordance with Section 312 of the Palm Springs City Charter,
the City Council of the City of Palm Springs finds and determines that the adoption of this
Interim Urgency Ordinance is necessary to ensure the immediate protection of the public
peace, health, and safety.
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Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
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SECTION 10. Effective Date. The City Council hereby declares, on the basis of
the findings set forth in the true and correct Recitals above, incorporated by this reference
herein, and in Section 9 above, that an urgency ordinance is warranted and that this
Interim Urgency Ordinance is necessary to preserve the public peace, health and safety.
Accordingly, this Interim Urgency Ordinance is adopted as such, and shall take effect and
be in force immediately upon its adoption. This Interim Urgency Ordinance shall expire
on November 10, 2017 unless otherwise extended by action of the City Council prior to
such date.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS CITY
COUNCIL THIS 6th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2017.
ATTEST: ROBERT MOON, MAYOR
KATHLEEN D. HART, MMC
INTERIM CITY CLERK
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, KATHLEEN D. HART, Interim City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby
certify that Interim Urgency Ordinance No. is a full, true and correct copy, and
adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 6th day of September, 2017,
by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
KATHLEEN D. HART, MMC
INTERIM CITY CLERK
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