(a)
The
building official shall inspect annually, or at such other times as
he deems necessary, each sign regulated by this article for the purpose
of ascertaining whether the same is secure or insecure, whether it
still serves a useful purpose and whether it is in need of removal
or repair.
(b)
The
city building official and his duly authorized inspectors shall have
the right to visit any site where a sign is being erected, during
reasonable hours, in the discharge of their official duties, for the
purpose of making any sign inspection necessary.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155,
Section 155.115)
(a)
Creation
and Composition.
There is hereby established a sign control
board consisting of five members and two alternate members appointed
by the city council. Members and alternates may participate, except
that only members will vote. In the event of a member’s absence,
the alternate will fulfill those duties.
(b)
Terms
of Members.
Members of the sign control board shall be
appointed for a period of two years. In the event of a vacancy, the
city council shall appoint a member to serve the unexpired term. In
the event a replacement or reappointment has not been made at the
end of a member’s designated term, such member will continue
to serve until reappointed or replaced.
(c)
Compensation.
Members of the sign control board shall serve without compensation.
(d)
Officers.
The sign control board shall designate the following officers
and their term as an officer shall run concurrent with their term
of appointment to the board.
(1)
Chairperson.
The chairperson shall preside at all meetings
where he or she is present. The chairperson shall implement or cause
to have implemented any practice or procedure in the calling of meetings,
conduct of meetings or reporting of activities that he or she considers
in the best interest of the board and shall so inform the city council
or consult with the city council when requested and at such times
when it appears necessary or desirable.
(2)
Vice-Chairperson.
The vice-chairperson shall assist
the chairperson in directing the total affairs of the board. In the
absence of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson shall assume all
duties of the chairperson.
(e)
Temporary
Chairperson; Quorum.
In the event of the absence of the
chairperson and vice-chairperson of the sign control board, the three
members constituting the quorum shall elect, for that meeting, a member
to preside as acting chairperson and assume all duties of the chairperson.
All motions shall be decided by a simple majority of the members present.
A tie vote shall constitute failure of the motion.
(f)
Meetings.
The sign control board shall establish one stated meeting per
calendar quarter and shall call special meetings as required to conduct
its duties. All stated meetings shall be open to the public. The board
shall establish the date, time and place of the meetings.
(g)
Records.
All proceedings of the sign control board shall be recorded
in minutes of meetings and such minutes shall be approved and made
a matter of public record.
(h)
Powers
and Duties.
The sign control board shall have the following
powers and perform the following duties:
(1)
The
city council authorizes the sign control board to sit as a board of
appeals in public hearings for purposes of this article. In considering
the requests for variation to requirements of this article, the sign
control board shall consider, but not be limited to, the degree of
variance, the reasons for variance requested, the location of variance
requested, the duration of the requested variance, the effect on public
safety, protection of neighborhood property, the degree of hardship
or injustice involved, and the effect of the variance on the general
plan for signing within the city. The sign control board shall grant
the variance requested, grant a variance of a greater or lesser nature
than requested, or deny a variance request.
(2)
All
action on variance requests shall be submitted to the city council
for review, and such decisions of the board shall become final unless
reversed or modified by the city council at the second city council
meeting following the sign control board meeting at which formal action
was taken by the board. In reviewing the action of the board, or variance
request, the city council shall consider the records made at the hearing
before the sign control board.
(3)
The
sign control board shall conduct continuing studies of sign ordinances
in neighboring municipalities as well as other cities where such study
will assist in upgrading the function of signing within the city and
make recommendations to the city council where appropriate.
(4)
The
sign control board will conduct a continual review of all nonconforming
signs and all variances granted and determine their desirability and
effects upon the neighborhood and city and make recommendations to
the city council where appropriate.
(5)
The
sign control board will evaluate new signing techniques as such are
developed and recommend to the city council their benefits or disadvantages
in the city.
(6)
The
sign control board may discuss the planning of signing in new or existing
developments upon request of the developer.
(7)
The
sign control board shall conduct studies, prepare opinions and general
plans as requested by the city council.
(8)
The
sign control board shall perform any duties specified elsewhere in
this article.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155,
Section 155.116)
