DISCUSSION
On March 6, 2013 the City Manager’s Property Committee met to discuss options for what to do with non-profit community event signs now placed in various locations within the City, many of which have become de facto posting locations. These non-profit community event signs are frequently banners, often sponsored by a local beverage company, and most commonly placed on fences at the BNSF property south of the I Do I Do Wedding Center near City Hall and at Mount Elden Middle School  on the corner of Cedar Avenue and Fourth Street. In addition, they are sometimes on the split rail fence near the old Wal-Mart (corner of Beulah Boulevard and McConnell Drive) and on the north side of Butler Avenue on a fence opposite the Sawmill development (see photographs on the following page). Single banners are also frequently placed anywhere within the City as well.
 
Background:

• Non-profit community event signs, like those included in Attachment A, are not specifically permitted in the Zoning Code. Further, as these signs are not located on the property where the non-profit community event would be occurring, they are off-premise signs, which are also prohibited in the Zoning Code.
• For at least the past eight to nine years, City code compliance staff has not enforced the removal of signs for non-profit community events. However, prior to this time frame, and following the adoption of the 1997 Sign Code, more rigorous enforcement of all signs was conducted by City staff. The reason for the more lenient approach was the thought that the placement of these signs provided a community service for non-profit organizations to advertise community events provided the property owners on whose property the signs had been placed did not prohibit them. However, staff has continued to seek the removal of signs advertising for-profit businesses placed at these locations as these are off-premise signs which are prohibited. 
• FUSD, as a “political subdivision of the state,” is exempt from local municipal zoning regulations and, therefore, from the City’s sign regulations. For this reason FUSD schools may hang banners on their fences that advertise school programs and activities (e.g. enrollment in STEM classes or environmental programs), but the banners may not be placed within City rights-of-way.

 


Overview of the Issue:

• Property owners such as BNSF and FUSD have become increasingly frustrated and concerned with the proliferation of non-profit community event signs on their properties.
• Staff has also received complaints and heard concerns from Flagstaff residents noting that these signs are an eyesore that contribute to visual clutter. Economic Vitality Division staff have also commented that these banners are neither appropriate nor representative of the City we are trying to promote. 
• Staff notes, however, that an argument could be made that non-profit community event signs add value to the community by providing residents with information on community events, and that as a small city, these signs are part of Flagstaff’s charm and character.
• The issue then, is whether the City should allow these signs to be placed in the community under the regulatory framework of suitably drafted and approved standards to be included in the Zoning Code? If so, where should they be permitted; on private property or on City property in defined locations, such as, for example, the corner of Route 66 and Fourth Street; or the corner of Lone Tree Boulevard and Butler Avenue?; or the intersections of Route 66 and Schweitzer Canyon Drive or Route 66 and Humphreys Street?

 
Options:

1. Decide whether the City should allow non-profit event signs to be placed in the community. This decision assumes suitably drafted and approved content neutral standards that satisfy First Amendment provisions of the law have been adopted in the Zoning Code.

• Consider allowing non-profit community event signs to be placed on private property locations where a suitable support structure has been erected. This may be simply a series of wooden posts approximately 9” in diameter set in the ground with a strong metal fence material between them on which the non-profit community event banner signs could be hung subject to approval of a temporary sign permit. Ideally, the property owner would be responsible for the costs associated with the construction of the sign support structure, and City staff would manage the program (note that the Zoning Code already allows Temporary Event Signs to be placed at the location where the event will be held).  
• Similarly, the City Council could approve appropriate locations on City property with a simple support structure as described above, where subject to a temporary sign permit, non-profit community event signs would be allowed.
• If there is support for the idea of a suitably designed sign support structure on either private or public property agreement is needed on:
  • Where in the City these might be allowed?
  • The type of support structure?
  • Funding for the design and construction of the support structure(s)?
  • Which City division administers the program – presumably the Code Compliance Program in the Community Development Division?
     

2. Alternatively, the City Council could choose to not support the idea of creating opportunities on City or private property for the placement of non-profit community event signs. Therefore, no amendments to the Sign Regulations of the Zoning Code would be necessary, except to clarify this prohibition.

   

• On-line community bulletin boards (e.g. radio stations such as KNAU, Arizona Daily Sun, and others) which typically offer advertising for such events at no charge
• www.Flagstaff365.com, a new free on-line community bulletin board service presented in partnership by Flagstaff Cultural Partners and the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Organizations such as Boys and Girls Club, Murdock Center, etc. to help promote other non-profit organization’s events
• Advertising through community event publications like Flagstaff Live and others
• Paid advertising using conventional media with the support of sponsors to assist with the costs.
• Staff has initiated a discussion with United Way to explore the idea of a new website specifically focused on advertising non-profit community events that might be developed and hosted by United Way. The organization has expressed great interest in and support for this idea, and is willing to work with the City to get it established. If such a website is developed, a link from the City’s webpage to this website could be created, and signs placed at strategic locations in the community could guide non-profit organizations to this website.
• Other ideas, such as inviting the Arizona Daily Sun to sponsor a once-a-week section of the paper where non-profit organizations could advertise their events will also be explored.

 
Conclusion:
At the April 30, 2013 work session, staff will seek direction from the City Council on the issue of non-profit community event banner signs that are currently placed on private property throughout the community. Specifically, staff is seeking direction on whether these types of signs should be permitted, and if so, where in the community they should be permitted, and under what conditions.