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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3H - Contingency Funds Transfer for Sign Ordinance AGENDA NUMBER: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: DATE: INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND: DISCUSSION: ALTERNATIVES: 3(h) KAY KUHLMANN, ACTING CITY MANAGER CONSIDER TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM CONTINGENCY TO COVER SIGN ORDINANCE REVISION FEBRUARY 16, 1993 The City Council is aware of the ongoing process to revise and adopt an amended Sign Ordinance. Staff is proposing that a consultant be hired to complete the process. In order to accomplish this, staff recommends that funds be transferred from contingency to cover the cost. The Sign Ordinance has been reviewed over the last 3 years by staff and business leaders of the community. This need for an updated Sign Ordinance became ever more evident with the recent problem with the Sign Variance for Radermacher's. The use of a consultant will assist staff in focusing on other key projects such as The wilds and the Waterfront Passage Business Park. The City has worked with Northwest Associated Consultants, Inc. in order to get a Shoreland Ordinance approved. Staff is confident that Steve Grittman will provide great assistance and expertise on this issue also. Attached is a copy of a proposal from Northwest Associated Consultants, Inc. The proposal discusses the staged review process and the cost. The City Council Alternatives: has the following 1. Transfer fundin9 from Contingency to hire Northwest Assoc1ated Consultants, Inc. to complete the Sign Ordinance at an amount not to exceed $3,250. ($2,950 + $300 for 2 meetings) 4629 Dakota St. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 / Ph. (612) 4474230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLDYER 3 (h) continued RECOMMENDATION: 2. Transfer funding from Contingency to hire Northwest Associated Consultants, Inc. for $2,950. (no funding for meetings) 3. Deny the request at this time. staff recommendation would be to transfer funds from Contingency to cover $2,950 for the consultant fees and an additional $300 for public meeting presentations. 2 ~ Northwest Associated Consultants, Inc. URBAN PLANNING'DESIGN'MARKET RESEARCH 4 February 1993 Mr. Horst Graser Planning Director City Administrative Offices 4629 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 RE: FILE NO: Prior Lake - Proposal for Sign Ordinance Review 802 Dear Mr. Graser: We have prepared the following proposal to assist the City of Prior Lake in the review, development, and adoption of new Sign regulations. This project takes the approach of providing review and research assistance to the staff as it relates to the City's current Sign Ordinance and the proposed Ordinance revision prepared by the staff last year. Significant time has been devoted to the development of new regulations by the City, and as a result, we would propose to give the City Council and the business community a thorough background for looking at the proposed language. Stage I of the project is an information and issues identification phase. The objective of the work is to provide a review of the City's current and proposed language as it relates to sign regulation issues which are most commonly encountered in both Prior Lake and other similar communities. This phase would include an extensive interview session with Planning Department and Building Official personnel, specifically those who are regularly involved with sign regulation and enforcement responsibilities. The review component of Stage I is intended to identify the general purpose of Sign Ordinance sections, analyze the extent to which the Prior Lake Ordinances would cover the issues, and provide alternative methods of regulating in those areas. The analysis would be in the form of a "pro. and con" discussion of the alternative regulations. 5775 Wayzata Blvd.. Suite 555. S1. Louis Park, MN 55416. (612) 595-9636.Fax. 595-9837 Mr. Horst Graser 4 February 1993 Page Two Stage II would be a research phase in which we would provide additional background on the purpose and effectiveness of signage in general, and of business signs in particular. The intent is to provide the City Staff, City Council, and the business community with a more common basis in which to evaluate the proposed regulations. Often, the concerns of the business community over City regulation of signs is too focussed on the business owner's single site, to the detriment of the overall community streetscape and the readability of individual sign communication. This stage of work will conclude in a program for Ordinance implementation and a summary meeting with City Staff. Following is a brief outline of the steps which we project in the project, together with an estimate of the consultant hours involved. The cost listed is a firm, not-to-exceed price which is based on the work objectives and outline. SIGN ORDINANCE REVIEW STAGE I. A. B. C. D. Signage Issues and Ordinance Review Develop Common Review Format In-house Review Meeting with Prior Lake Staff Analyze Existing and Proposed Ordinances Review Comparable Ordinances E. STAGE II. General Sign Regulation A. Applications for Prior Lake Ordinances and Conditions B. Develop Alternatives for Prior Lake Draft Ordinance C. Develop Implementation Steps D. Summary Meeting with Staff TOTAL HOURS TOTAL COST Senior Staff Hours Support Staff Hours 5 2 4 4 2 5 8 4 10 2 3 4 5 30 28 $2,950.00 Mr. Horst Graser 4 February 1993 Page Three This projection is a firm, not-to-exceed price for the work product described above. It includes our work and production expenses. Where you may feel it beneficial for us to attend additional meetings for purposes of presentation to the public or City officials, we would suggest a flat fee of $150 per meeting. In this way, you can decide whether our presence at such a meeting is necessary without building it into the project budget on the front end. If there is a focus to the project which you believe needs to be enhanced, or other tasks you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to let me know. We want to be sure that the program is designed to fit your needs. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to Prior Lake. Cordially, NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC. Stephen W. Grittman Vice President