HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-080 Resolution Amending Median Banner Policy (Resolution 13-063) RESOLUTION 13-080
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA i
AMENDING RESOLUTION 13-063 ESTABLISHING
A MEDIAN BANNER POLICY
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution 13-063 and approved the Median Banner
Policy on September 18, 2013; and
WHEREAS,the Median Banner Policy provides individuals and groups the opportunity to
announce non-coinmercial events to be held in the City of Saratoga that are open to the public with
a streamlined process to make use of City inedians while at the same time maintaining, protecting,
and enhancing the aesthetics of key entrances to and exits from the City, and maintaining roadway
safety; and
WHEREAS, the policy institutes guidelines for event banners that define a review process
for banners and offers areas in City medians to effectively announce Saratoga events; and
WHEREAS, on December 4, 2013, the policy was amended to include a reference to
Section 15-30.060(k) of the Saratoga City Code concerning city medians.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,that the City Council of the City of Saratoga
does hereby add the following language as the first paragraph to the Median Banner Policy:
"This policy implements section 15-30.060(k) of the Saratoga City Code concerning City median
signs."
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Saratoga
City Council held on the 4t�' day of December 2013 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Emily Lo, Vice Mayor Howard Miller, Council Member Manny
Cappello, Chuck Page, Jill Hunter
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
_ --� ,
ABSTAIN: None � _ �
�-�_- �' �'
Emily Lo, Mayor
ATTEST:
�`'�1�� I c'�� ������A�� DATE: �� � 7'CJ��
Crf�st Bothelio, City Clerk
Median Banner Policy
This policy implements section 15-30.060(k) of the Saratoga City Code concerning
City median signs.
The City of Saratoga owns and maintains medians in City streets and uses seven
locations in these medians for banners to promote community identity and civic
pride, beautify City streets, and inform the public of community events. The City
does not post banners in these medians at all times. For median banner locations
not being used for a City-sponsored banner, private banners are allowed in
accordance with this policy.
The following policy describes the City's procedures for banners in the seven
identified City medians. No encroachment or other authorization for private use of
City property shall be issued to allow banners or signs in any median except in
accordance with this policy.
This policy is administered by the City Manager's Office.All references to the City
refer to the City Manager or a person designated by the City Manager in writing to
administer this policy.
The Median Banner Policy furthers the goals of the City's sign regulations found at
City Code Article 15-30.10. This section of City Code states that sign regulations are
intended to assure use of high-quality signs, prevent sign clutter, highlight city
activities, protect public safety by reducing traffic and safety hazards, and provide a
reasonable system of sign control.
Policv Goals
• Help inform residents and others of events in Saratoga that are open to the
public.
• Offer event organizers an additional opportunity to promote their Saratoga
events.
• Preserve the City's aesthetic beauty by establishing guidelines for event
banners and offering appropriate areas in City medians to inform the public
of community events in Saratoga.
• Maintain roadway safety by establishing a clear and concise policy for proper
placement of private banners in City medians.
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Policv Process and Reauirements
The following Median Banner Policy Matrix specifies the requirements event
organizers need to meet in order to have their banners placed in City medians.
. �
Median Banner Locations 1) Intersection of Fruitvale Avenue and
Allendale Avenue
2) Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road near Walnut
Avenue
3) Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road near Prospect
Road
4) Prospect Road and Highway 85 (near Plumas
Drive)
5) Saratoga Avenue near Westview Drive
6) Saratoga Avenue near Highway 85
Intersection
7) Intersection of Saratoga Avenue and
Fruitvale Avenue
(Map of locations attached)
Private banners may be placed in some or all of
these locations when the location is not being
used by the City.
Permissible Banners Private banners placed in City medians must
announce an event that (1) is non-commercial;
(2) will be held in Saratoga; (3) is open to the
general public; and (4) is held by either (a) a
non-profit organization; (b) an individual or
group without charge; or (c) an individual or
group with a charge for the purpose of cost-
recovery or raising funds on behalf of a non-
profit organization.A non-commercial event is
an event that does not promote a business or the
sale of a good, service, or other commodity.
Duration of Banner Posting Private median banners may be posted no
earlier than 14 days before the date of the event.
Banner Size and Other To ensure that banners are highly effective and
Requirements meet City requirements:
a) Banners must be between two-and-a-half
(21/a) to three-and-a-half(31/a) feet in height
and five (5) to six (6) feet in length.
b) Banners must be made from a heavy-duty
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canvas or vinyl material.
c) One-half(1/2) inch inside diameter metal
grommets are to be placed at all four corners
of the banner.
d) Half moon cuts must be made in banners to
allow for proper airflow to prevent ripping
and/or tearing.
e) Banners must be two-sided so as to be seen
from both directions of traffic.
f� Banners may not include reflective material,
flashing or moving parts, streamers,balloons,
flares, pennants, twirlers or similar
attention-getting devices.
Application Process Applicants must:
a) Submit an application for use of one or more
of the median banner locations at least 10
City business days in advance of the
proposed date for installation. The
application shall be on the form developed by
the City Manager for that purpose.
b) Applications may be submitted no more than
six (6) months in advance of the date that the
banner is proposed for installation.
Applications that do not conflict with dates
and locations of City signs on the schedule
approved by the City Manager at the time the
application is received will be accepted on a
first come-first served basis. If multiple
applications for the same banner location for
the same day received on the same day, the
conflict shall be resolved by a random
drawing. For the purpose of this policy,the
day an application is received is the first City
business day that City staff have an
opportunity to review the application (for
example, an e-mail sent on a Sunday and a
letter delivered on a Friday when the City
offices are closed would both be considered
to be received on the first day that the City
offices are open following the date on which
the e-mail was sent or letter delivered).
c) The application shall be accompanied by a
fee of$30 per location. Payment must be
received to reserve banner locations. The fee
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shall be refunded if the application is not
approved.
d) The City Manager shall determine the days
that each of the median banner locations will
be used by the City and make the schedule
available to interested members of the
public.
Banner Hanging and Removal a) Banners must be submitted to the City
Manager's Office no later than three (3) City
business days before they are to be installed.
Banners that do not meet the requirements
set forth in this policy will not be hung and
will be returned to the applicant.
b) Banners will be removed by City staff no
more than two (2) City business days after
the event date.
c) The City will notify event organizers that
their banners are ready to be claimed.
Banners must be claimed within five (5) City
business days once organizers have been
notified. Banners not claimed within that
time may be disposed of at the discretion of
the City Manager's Office.
Annual Exception During the 14 days prior to the first Sunday in
May private event banners may be placed in City
medians other than the locations described
above as follows:
a) The alternative locations have been
designated by the City Manager as alternative
sites that, for the limited duration of the
posting, are consistent with the purposes of
the City's sign ordinance.
b) The banner size, structural design, and
hanging and removal procedures meet
criteria approved by the City Manager to
assure that for the limited duration of the
posting, the banners are consistent with the
purposes of the City's sign ordinance.
c) The City Manager shall specify the alternative
locations and the size/structural/hanging
and removal procedure requirements
referenced above no later than November 15
of each year.
d) Applicants must show proof of insurance that
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satisfies the City's standard insurance
requirements.
e) Applicants shall follow the application
process described above except that if the
applicant proposes to hang and remove the
banners in the alternative locations no fee
shall be required.
Liability The City of Saratoga assumes no responsibility of
the loss, theft, or damage to banners or loss,
damage, or injury caused by the banners.
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