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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 248ORDINANCE 248 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11 OF THE CITY CODE ADDING SECTION 11- 05.053 ALLOWING SIGNS IN CONGRESS SPRINGS PARK THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Findings. The City Council finds and declares as follows: A. On December 20, 2006, the City Council conducted a public hearing at which all interested persons had an opportunity to be heard to consider amending Chapter 11 of the City Code to add Section 11-05.053 allowing Signs in Congress Springs Park. B. In reviewing the types of uses at Congress Springs Park the City Council has determined that: 1. Congress Springs Park is designed and developed primarily for youth team sports; 2. Youth team sports contribute to a safe and healthy community; 3. There is a tradition of allowing sponsorship signs at youth sporting events at Congress Springs Park and in neighboring communities and these sponsorships enable high quality youth sports to be provided; 4. Signs and posters are needed in order to provide safety warnings, instructions, and other information to the parents and families of youth sport participants and others attending such events, in order to provide for the safety of those at the park; 5. In order to protect the aesthetics of the park and of adjoining Glen Brae Drive, to prevent damage to park resources, and to minimize conflict over the posting of signs it is necessary to identify those areas of the park where signs are permitted; 6. A limit on the size and duration of signs posted in Congress Springs park is Page 1 of 4 Ordinance No. 248 necessary to allow the orderly and shared use of the limited area of the park open to such signs; and 7. While signs, posters, and other advertisements generally impair the aesthetics of Saratoga's parks, Congress Springs Park differs from other parks in the City due to its dedication to youth sports use; in order to continue providing opportunities for Saratoga's youth to participate in high quality youth team sports, and in order to protect the safety of those in the park, the City should allow posting of signs in Congress Springs Park subject to reasonable limitations to protect the aesthetics of the park. Section 2. Adoption. Chapter 11 of the Saratoga City Code is amended to add section 11-05.053 as follows: 11-05.053 Posting of Signs in Congress Springs Park. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, in Congress Springs Park signs, banners, and posters may be posted, affixed, or otherwise attached in accordance with this section of the Code provided that no sign, banner, or poster may be posted over a previously posted sign, banner, or poster. (b) Signs, banners, and posters are permitted only in the following areas of the park: (i) On fencing for all dugouts, bleachers, and batting cages; (ii) The portion of backstop fencing from ground level to a height often (10) feet. (iii) The wall of the concession-stand facing the field area, provided that the sign, poster, or banner is not larger than 450 square inches; (iv) On temporary structures erected by a user group in the field for use in an activity being carried out pursuant to a group use permit (e.g., on temporary outfield fencing for baseball or registration tables for awalk-a- thon or other event); and (v) At up to three locations in the field area on a temporary structure designed to hold only the sign, banner, or poster and erected in a manner that does not damage turf or otherwise impair future use of the park. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no sign maybe erected in any location where the printing on the sign is clearly visible from Glen Brae Drive. Page 2 of 4 Ordinance No. 248 (c) No signs, banners, or posters posted in Congress Springs Park maybe larger than twenty (20) square feet. (d) All signs shall be marked with the date of posting. No sign, banner, or poster may be posted for more than two weeks unless posted in connection with an activity permitted pursuant to a group use permit in which case the sign may be posted for the term of the use permit. Signs, banners, and posters maybe re- posted for additional two week periods provided that the sign is removed for at least 48 hours at the end of each posting period. (e) The area on the batting cage closest to Glen Brae Drive shall remain open for posting of signs, banners, and posters by any person notwithstanding any group use permit authorizing a particular group exclusive use of the park. (f) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Director from posting signs necessary to protect public health and safety. Section 3. Severance Clause. The City Council declares that each section, sub-section, paragraph, sub-paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance is severable and independent of every other section, sub-section, sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance. If any section, sub- section, paragraph, sub-paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase are held invalid, the City Council declares that it would have adopted the remaining provisions of this ordinance irrespective of the portion held invalid, and further declares its express intent that the remaining portions of this ordinance should remain in effect after the invalid portion has been eliminated. Section 4. Publication. This ordinance or a comprehensive summary thereof shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation of the City of Saratoga within fifteen days after its adoption. The foregoing ordinance was introduced and read at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Saratoga held on the 20th day of December, 2006, and was adopted by the following vote following a second reading on the 3rd day of January, 2007. Page 3 of 4 Ordinance No. 248 COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES: Councilmembers Jill Hunter, Kathleen King, Chuck Page, Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith, Mayor Aileen Kao NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SIGNED: ~~~~ ~~~~ Aileen Kao MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA A OFSARATOGA APPROVED .9rS TO FORM: Richard Taylor CITY ATTORNEY Page 4 of 4 Ordinance No. 248