Agenda No. 9.
CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
| City Council Meeting: | March 18, 2025 |
| Department: | Planning & Community Development |
| Subject: | Workshop regarding Temporary Sign Enforcement specifically in relation to Inflatable / Balloon Signs and Feather Flags (B.James/L.Wood/E.Delgado) |
BACKGROUND
Spanning from November 2024 through February 2025 the Planning Division gave several presentations / workshops regarding updating the UDC for temporary signs and more specifically, inflatable signs and feather flags. At the February 18th City Council meeting, a consensus was made and direction was provided to the Planning Division to incorporate into an upcoming full Article 11 UDC rewrite. This included prohibiting Balloon signs including inflatable signs regardless of their size but allowing feather flags with a time limitation of no more than 14 days per calendar year. The proposed changes also included changing the maximum area and height for feather flags and the overall time limitation for temporary signs. Additionally, the proposed amendment would create a new type of permit called a "Recurring Event Permit".
The full Article 11 Signs UDC Amendment is being drafted and reviewed with an anticipated Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council hearing in the next few months (May or June). With the extensive discussion had just on temporary signs, staff is doing a thorough review of the full article. Until that UDC amendment is heard and acted on by the City Council the UDC temporary sign language discussed at the February 18th City Council meeting is not technically a UDC code requirement at this time.
Based on the number of feather flags that currently exist in the City of Schertz, the question of enforcement of the proposed UDC language has come into question and staff is giving this workshop to have a discussion and receive direction on how City Council would like staff to enforce feather flags and balloon signs until the upcoming UDC Article 11 rewrite is heard.
Staff has three proposed options for enforcement of temporary signs, specifically for feather flags and inflatable / balloon signs.
Option #1:
The goal for this workshop is to receive direction from City Council on how they would like staff to enforce regulations on balloon signs and feather flags until the full UDC Article 11 rewrite is brought before City Council.
Staff has three proposed options for enforcement of temporary signs, specifically for feather flags and inflatable / balloon signs.
Option #1:
Staff can keep enforcing feather flags and balloon signs in the same fashion as prior to the City Council direction on February 18th.
- This would include:
- Requiring a permit for all temporary signs.
- Not allowing balloon signs and feather flags based on UDC Section 21.11.6- Prohibited Signs which states that no sign shall be permitted which interferes with vehicular traffic due to their shape, and movement which causes traffic safety concerns.
Option #2:
Staff can start enforcing balloon signs and feather flags based on the direction received at the February 18th City Council meeting.
- This would include:
- Prohibiting all balloon signs, which will result in businesses being contacted to remove any balloon / inflatable signs they may have on their property
- Requiring businesses that have feather flags on their property to obtain a sign permit with the stipulation that feather flags are only allowed for 14 days per calendar year.
- Keep in mind that feather flags and balloon signs that are currently installed on properties were most likely done so without obtaining a temporary sign permit as staff currently classifies them as a prohibited sign that causes interference with traffic.
- In other words, every business that has a feather flag on their property will be required to obtain a temporary sign permit.
- Any feather flag that does not obtain a permit or after receiving a permit that is left on site for more than14 days, the business / property owner would be notified that the feather flag is in violation and would need to be removed
Staff can only enforce feather flags and balloon signs / inflatable signs that are in the right of way or create a hazard until the new UDC Amendment ordinance has been adopted.
The goal for this workshop is to receive direction from City Council on how they would like staff to enforce regulations on balloon signs and feather flags until the full UDC Article 11 rewrite is brought before City Council.