Council Mtg: June 8,1999 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendations for Appointments to the Meritorious Sign Review Task Force
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends appointments to the Meritorious Sign Task Force.
BACKGROUND
In April1985, the City Council enacted a new sign code. Section 9.52.210 (d) of this code requires five non-conforming sign types, (free-standing, projecting, upper level, roof and off-premises) be removed by April 11, 2000. The Architectural Review Board, Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission have recommended that certain of these non-conforming signs be preserved as "meritorious" signs. In this context, meritorious signs might include historic or other unique signs that enrich and represent the culture in Santa Monica and/or the Southern California region (e.g., the Santa Monica Pier sign).
On March 23, 1999, City Council directed staff to initiate an amendment to the Sign Ordinance to provide for meritorious signs in Section 9.52.210 (d) that would establish selection criteria and a designation process to preserve these signs. Accordingly, the City Council approved establishment of a Meritorious Sign Task Force that will become the Meritorious Sign Review Board upon approval of the amendments. The Task Force (and later Review Board) will be composed as follows:
A member of the Architectural Review Board
A member of the Landmarks Commission
A member of the Planning Commission
A member of the business community
An at-large community representative
This body would identify at one time all the signs eligible for meritorious designation. The draft designation list of meritorious signs will be sent to all business and property owners for review and comment. After a hearing, the Meritorious Sign Review Board will adopt the final list of meritorious signs, appealable to the City Council. The goal is that, by September 1999, when a second notification letter is sent to the owner of a non-conforming sign(s), all potential meritorious signs will have been reviewed and designated. The Meritorious Sign Review Board would be dissolved after the final designations have been certified. An ordinance establishing the process for meritorious signs will be brought to Council for action in late July. This ordinance will establish the procedure and process for designation.
The following representatives are recommended for appointment to the Task Force:
The Planning Commission recommends the appointment of Ken Breisch
The Architectural Review Board recommends the appointment of Sergio Zeballos
The Landmarks Commission recommends the appointment of R. Scott Page
The Executive Committee of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce recommends John Bohn as the representative from the business community
Herb Katz has applied as a member of the community at-large (No other applications for the at-large appointment were filed)
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council appoint five members to the Meritorious Sign Task Force.
Prepared by:
Suzanne Frick, Director
Jay Trevino, AICP, Planning Manager
Susan Healy Keene, AICP, Acting Senior Planner
City Planning Division Planning and Community Development Department