HomeMy WebLinkAbout201 - 01/04/2005 - AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO SIGNS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND CHAPTER 17 OF THE ORDINANCE NO. 201, 2004
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
PERTAINING TO SIGNS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND CHAPTER 17
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, PERTAINING TO
POSTING OF NOTICES AND HANDBILLS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
WHEREAS,Section 24-1 of the City Code prohibits the placement of signs on public streets,
sidewalks or other areas owned by the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Engineer has responsibility over the use of public rights-of-way and
has encountered an ongoing problem with individuals placing signs in the public right-of-way,which
placement creates a hazard and an aesthetic nuisance; and
WHEREAS, it is often difficult to determine who is responsible for illegally placing signs,
the person, group or business advertised on the sign benefits from the illegal placing of such signs
in the public right of way, yet City staff expends time and resources to remove and store the illegally
placed signs; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes it is reasonable and fair and in the City's best interest to
impose upon those persons, groups or businesses the duty to collect the illegally placed signs and
to allow the City to remove and destroy the illegally placed signs that have not been removed or
collected by the sign owner; and
WHEREAS, Section 17-42 contains a similar prohibition of, and process for the police to
remove, illegally placed signs on public property; and
WHEREAS, Section 17-42(e) should be amended to allow the police to dispose of illegally
placed signs, handbills and notices consistent with Section 24-1.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That Section 17-42(e) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
(e) Any person or entity whose business,interests or activities are advertised,
furthered or promoted by any commercial business signs or noncommercial signs
posted in violation of this Section shall,within twenty-four(24)hours of delivery of
notice by the city,remove from the public right-of-way any such signs. If the person
or entity cannot be ascertained or the sign is not removed after notice, the city may
remove and dispose of the sign without further notice,notwithstanding the provisions
of § 23-130, in addition to issuing a citation for violation of this Section.
Section 2. That Section 24-1 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended
to read in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 24-1. Signs on streets,sidewalks,and public rights of way prohibited;
removal; exceptions; permit.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this Section, no person
shall erect any sign upon any street, sidewalk, or public right of way as defined in §
17-42, or other area owned by the city.
(b) If at any time the City Engineer finds a sign placed or erected in violation
of paragraph (a), the City Engineer may remove the sign. The City Engineer shall
notify the sign owner that the sign will be disposed of if not collected by the sign
owner within ten(10)days. If the sign owner cannot be ascertained or the sign owner
fails to collect the sign after notice, the City Engineer may dispose of the sign in any
manner, notwithstanding the provisions of§ 23-130,in addition to issuing a citation
for violation of this Section.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section, the
following signs shall be permitted on streets,sidewalks and other areas owned by the
city:
(5) If at any time the City Engineer determines that a neighborhood
organization which has existing neighborhood recognition signs does not,
for any reason, satisfy all the requirements set forth in paragraph (b)(4)of
this Section, the City Engineer shall give notice to the sign owner to
remove the sign within ten(10)days. If the sign owner fails to remove the
sign after notice, the City Engineer may remove and dispose of the sign
without further notice, notwithstanding the provisions of § 23-130, in
addition to issuing a citation for violation of this Section.
(6) Signs placed by the city on bus benches and bus shelters displaying
advertisements, provided that:
a. Any bus shelters displaying advertising signs shall be located either:
(1) within three hundred(300)feet of any existing commercial/retail
or industrial use, (2) within three hundred (300) feet of any land
zoned to permit any commercial/retail or industrial use, or(3) along
any arterial street provided that no residential uses front on such
arterial street within three hundred(300)feet of such bus shelter;and
b. If signs are placed on bus benches or bus shelters by a private
contractor pursuant to a contract between the city and said contractor,
such contract shall specify the content,size,placement,illumination,
design and material to be used for the construction of the benches or
shelters, and the signs placed thereon, so as to minimize the visual
impacts of such signs on the general public and surrounding
properties.
(7) Neighborhood entry signs which have been authorized pursuant to Chapter
23, Article III, Division 4 of the Code.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21st day of
December, A.D. 2004, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of January, A.D. 2005.
Mayor -
ATTEST:
City Clerk ki
Passed and adopted on final reading this 4th day of January, A.D. 2005.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk