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Resolution No. 15-31, Modifying the Planning Fee Schedule for A-Frame Signs in the Right-of-Way
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RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
Staff recommends that the City Commission adopt proposed Resolution No. 15-31 to amend the Community Development Department 2015 Fee Schedule. The Resolution, effective November 1, 2015, reduces the fees and number of permits required for placing an A-frame sign within the public right-of-way. These fee shall be adjusted annually for inflation.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Oregon City adopted an amended sign code under Ordinance 14-1003. Resolution 15-08, was also adopted to establish permits and fees for new types of signage allowed under the amended code. The Ordinance and Resolution become effective on November 1, 2015.
In the interim, the City Commission reconsidered the fee arrangement for A-frame signs within the right-of-way and hereby amends Resolution 15-08 with this Resolution 15-31. At the September 8, 2015 City Commission Work Session staff was directed to reduce the fees and number of permits required for placing A-frame signs in the right-of-way.
In an effort to support business practices in non-residential areas, the sign permit fees will be adjusted for A-frame signs within the right-of-way. Although the City has the ability to charge the actual cost of reviewing sign permit applications, in the review of A-Frame sign permits the City Commission decided it does not want the permit price to become cost-prohibitive. Therefore, the sign fee is being reduced from $172 (or $86 if submitted after June 30th) to $50 per year. This reduction in the permit fee reduces the amount to less than the City’s cost for reviewing the sign permit application and is intended to reduce the financial burden for placing an A-Frame sign in the right-of-way.
In addition, the permit process for A-frame signs is being streamlined by eliminating a double-permitting requirement. If the only signage type a permittee intends to place within the right-of-way is an A-frame sign, then the only required permit is an “A-Frame Sign within the Right-of-Way.” Previously, under Resolution 15-08, any sign in the right-of-way triggered the need for an additional “Annual Right-of-Way Permit for Signage.” The advantage of the “Annual Right-of-Way Permit for Signage” is to allow a sign permittee the opportunity to place multiple sign types within the right-of-way. However, the “A-Frame Sign within the Right-of-Way” is an annual permit and will additionally verify the same information as the “Annual Right-of-Way Permit for Signage.” Thus, if a sign permittee does not intend to place additional types of signs within the right-of-way, such as cross-street banners, there is no need to obtain an “Annual Right-of-Way Permit for Signage.” Therefore, an “Annual Right-of-Way Permit for Signage” is only required for permittees who submit an application to place cross street banners or banners on a street light pole in the right-of-way.
No changes from the fee schedule adopted in Resolution 15-08 are proposed for the remaining sign permit types - A Permit for Cross Street Banners within the Right-of-Way (Highway 99E/Pedestrian Bridge); A permit for Cross Street Banners within the Right-of-Way (Molalla Avenue at Beverly Drive); A Permit for Banners on Street Light Poles within the Right-of-Way; and Banners on Private Property. However, for purposes of completeness, the sign fees for all sign permits are provided and become effective on November 1, 2015.