Consider Amendment to Lease with Anoka County License Center with Regard to Signage

The Anoka County License Center has been operating from the Ramsey Municipal Center since late June of 2010.  The provision of the service from the Municipal Center has dramatically increased traffic at the Municipal Center and in The COR.  At the time of their move into the facility, Anoka County requested signage to be placed on the Municipal Parking Facility that included the use of cabinet style back-lit red letters and logo, similar to the signage on their former location on US10.  The lease agreeement language allowed for the placement of lit signage on the ramp, but did not specify the signage type specifically.  Staff had concerns that the signage requested did not match the existing signage or meet the sign standards and thus proceeded to negotiate with the county to have them install signage consistent with the existing and in compliance with the City's standards for The COR. 

 

During this time of negotiation, the HRA's Development Management Team began work on the rehab signs at Ramsey and Armstrong Boulevards as well as the new pylon sign on US10.  In an effort to bring additional traffic to the COR and to increase access to the services available at the Municipal Center, staff is recommending that the new signage at Ramsey, Armstrong and US 10 reflect the Anoka County License Center as a co-tenant in the Municipal Center.  

 

The County will be responsible for the cost of the signs and installation that will be placed on the Municipal Parking Facility; as a part of the budget for the build-out of the lease space, the City would be responsible for the cost of uplighting the signage on the ramp.  The cost of the signage that matches the existing signage on the ramp was significantly higher than the signage desired by the County, this staff is recommending that we proceed with completing the additional lighting necessary on the ramp signage.  

 

Additionally, this amendment provides that the County, may at its expense, add signage to the locations on the north side (Sunwood Boulevard) of the Municipal Center where the existing "City Hall" and "Ramsey Municpal Center" signage is located.  The signage would match the material and cost of the existing signage. 

Staff is recommending that Council approve the proposed lease amendment with the Anoka County License Center with regard to signage. 

Funding for the construction of the new signage on Ramsey, Boulevard and US10 is provided by the HRA.  Funding for the additional lighting on the ramp for the new Anoka County Signage to be provided by the fund established for the build-out. 

Motion to Approve the Lease Amendment with the Anoka County License Center with Regard to Signage.