Item 8AAGENDA ITEM # 8A
JULY 12, 2010
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Sign violations
SUBMITTED BY: Sonya Doerr, AICP .~~
Community Development Director
DATE: July 1, 2010
BACKGROUND: Code Enforcement has advised this business owner numerous times that these
pennantlbanner flag signs must be removed. The banners continue to be placed outside each day. The
business also has a homemade plywood reader sign that is in violation of the sign ordinance. This matter
will be taken to the Code Enforcement Board at the August 10th meeting.
Sec. 17-42. Prohibited Signs and Devices.
(1) Pennants, ribbons, balloons, streamers, wind-operated devices and similar elements that are
intended to draw attention to a business or activity, either when used alone or incorporated
into a Sign.
Pennants are defined as a ... "single flag-like piece of cloth, plastic or paper attached to any staff, cord,
Building, or other Structure at only one (1) or two (2) edges, the remaining hanging loosely; lacking the
insignia of a Flag.
July 12, 2010 regular meeting
Per the following, commercial banners and pennants are not permitted signage. This provision has been
very consistently enforced for many years.
AGENDA ITEM # 8A
NLY 12, 2010
Banner signs are permitted, but only for the purposes as set forth in Section 17-33 below, and specifically
excluding such commercial signs. Examples of permitted Banner signs would be those used for Arts Walk,
Tree Lighting, Dancin' in the Streets and those that are displayed from the light poles in Town Center and
temporarily for other civic and community events.
Sec. 17-33. Banner Signs.
(a) The purpose of Banner Signs shall be to promote special seasonal, civic or community events that
occur on a temporary basis.
(b) Banner Signs may be displayed subject to registration verifying compliance with the following
provisions.
(3) Banner Signs shall not contain an Advertising Message. (#3 of 6 provisions)
The Code Enforcement Officer has advised that this sign is already having a "domino "effect with several
other businesses either placing or asking to place similar banners and pennants at their businesses. These
types of signs are inexpensive, and they will quickly proliferate if the ordinance is not enforced as it
consistently has been. The below have now been removed, but these went up soon after the above.
Please note that this prohibition is only against pennants/banners that contain a commercial advertising
message or graphic, or serve the purpose only of promoting a business, and not to American, state, country
flags or facsimiles thereof or to decorative and holiday flags or flags of governmental, religious, charitable,
fraternal or other organizations.
BUDGET: No budget issues.
RECOMMENDATION: Maintain and enforce sign ordinance as written.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
July 12, 2010 regular meeting