Exh 8FAGEPIDA ITEM #SF
SEPTEMBER 24, 2001
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Request to allow banners as Special Event signs
SUBMITTED BY: Sonya Doerr, AICP, Community Development Director
DATE: September 17, 2001
BACKGROUND: The Atlantic Beach Expenmental Theatre (ABET) has asked the Crty for
pemission to use temporary banners, to be displayed at the Adele Grage Community Center, for the
purpose of promoting their productions Section 17-2 of the Municipal Code prohibits banners of any
type, and as such, a Sign Permit cannot be issued for the requested banners
If it ~s the desire and duechon of the Commission, Staff will draft and recommend an amendment to the
current sign regulations that would pernit the use of banners for such purposes The Commrssion
should be aware that all regulations related to the restnction of Signs must be carefully considered
Communities commonly adopt ordinances that allow for temporary Special Event Signs that are used
for the purpose of promoting special civic or business events It must be understood, however, that the
City is restncted from regulating the message or content, of such a sign
• Sign regulations must not violate First Amendment protections In other words, the City would
not be able to prohibit a banner if it found the message of the banner to be generally offensive
to the community, provided tt otherwise complied with the adopted temporary sign regulations
• Sign regulations must be entirely content neutral, and caution must be taken not to tmproperly
distinguish between non-commercial and commercial speech
• Temporary sign regulations may control size, length of time displayed and the type of
temporary signs allowed Such signs may include banners, balloons or pennants that are
restncted to a certain number of days where the display of such sign can occur, a fixed
maximum size and a provision for some type of permitting or monrtonng of such Signs
• The Crty has the ability to maintain control of the type of signs that are allowed withun City
nghtrof--ways, provided we do not make City property available for any type of sign other than
that installed by the City (This would include street banners attached to fight poles, such as m
the Town Center area )
RECOMMENDATION: Dtrechon to staff related to Temporary Stgn or banner regulations
ATTACHMENTS: None C` `./,
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
AGENDA ITEM #8F
SEPTEMBER 24, 2001
Atlantic 6eacl~r Experim~ta~LThea~-e
Adele Crage-Cexmrrxranitj~ Center
716 Oceatt 6¢.ulevard - Carnex' of 7t" Street
Atlantic Beach, Florida 3233
September 13, 2001
Mr. Jim Hanson
Gty Manager
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233
OearJim,
Thankyou foryour permrssien to serve wine atour opening night
receptions We will, asalways, strive to avoid any cause farcamplaints
We are, of course, saddened by the news that warding in the city code
may prevent our use of the banner.
We request that the city camra~ission grant us a speaal exception tv-tlae
sign ordinance Thank yow for your consideration of our rec{aesYand
foryour assistance ir+taking thismatter tothe commission. We have
found thatdespite a-~# of eublicity many Atlantic Beach residents are
still unawa+<e-of ABET' and the fact that tkre,atre~produdions-are
regularly performed at the Adele Grage Community Center.
Our banner is two (2) feet wide by s+x l6) feet bng with green
aettering on a white background and reads as follows.
ABET
Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre
" Now Playing . ",
baby the name of the running dates of the current productions.
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AGENDA ITEM #8F
SEPTEMBER 24, 2001
Page 2
We propose to mount it above-the door between the pillars, parallel
across the entrance
As I was rev+ewing this-letter I received yvur~ Fax reply to +ny earlier
Fax to yr3+,a. Thank you for sending me the city's sign ordirianee I-also
see that 37.d (1~+) allews sagas posted on public facilities if perra4itted
by contract approved by the City Coi~nrr+'assioner Based on tha~we
request #hat the City F,Fxtlaiiissiomfonsider permitting our banner
under this provision
We at AB€T are very yratefwl far the support we #+ave receivedfrom-
the AYIaY-tic Beach Ctty Corrimission and understand that we have a few
cntics ware unhappy with okay existence These criticsa>ertaiMly do
not reflect the majoaity of Atlaatic Beach residents who feet that ABET
as an assetYa our community.
Again, I very much appreeiateyour willingness-te Lake our request for
a special~xception for our baa4raer Is there any possibility of getting
temporary approval so we can use the banner for the first show-vf ois-
new seasari on Friday, September 1~F, 2oaIT If so, we will be very
grateful.
Many thanks for your patience and assistance in this matter.
Very trutyyo-uyr~s,~y/
George N' Maida
ABET President
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