HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.4 SB343 Sign Regulations
4-17-12
58 343
Senate Bill 343 mandates supplemental materials that have been
received by the City Clerk's office that relate to an agenda item after
the agenda packets have been distributed to the City Council be
available to the public.
The attached document was received in the City Clerk's office after
distribution of the April 17, 2012 City Council meeting agenda packet.
Item 6.4
From: Bruce Fiedler
brucefiedler@att.net<mailto:brucefiedler@att.net>>
Date: April 14, 2012 5:31:00 PM PDT
To: Tim Sbranti
tim .sbra nti@ci.dublin.ca.us<ma ilto:tim.sbranti@ci.dublin.ca.us>>,.
Kevin Hart
kevi n .hart@dublin.ca.gov<mailto:kevin.hart@dublin.ca .gov>>, Don
Biddle
don. bidd le@ci.dublin.ca.us<mailto:don.biddle@ci.dublin.ca . us>>,
Kasie Hildenbrand
kasie. h ildenbrand@dublin.ca.gov<mailto:kasie.hildenbrand @dublin.ca.g
ov>>, Eric Swalwell
eric.swa Iwe II@dublin.ca.gov<mailto:eric.swalwell@dubl;n .ca .gov>>,
Jeri Ram <ierLram@ci.dublin.ca.us<mailto:ierLram@ci.dublin.ca.us>>
Subject: Signs
From: Bruce Fiedler
To: Mayor Sbranti and Dublin City Council Members
Re: Consideration of Amendments to the Sign Ordinances
For at least fifteen years I have asked you and your predecessors on the Council to take action to
improve the look and feel of the community, abate the visual pollution caused by tawdry signs and
banners, and by so doing, improve the commercial attraction of Dublin and the property values of our
homes.
A. One section of your April 17 agenda will improve the situation somewhat. That part which specifies
size, number, placement, interval and duration of most temporary promotion signs has my full support.
*** One thing should be added which will not require revision of these materials is your direction to
City Staff to take immediate action as soon as they see a non-conforming situation. Citizens should not
have to beg for enforcement of our laws: not for DUI, not for dumping trash in the street, and not for
illegal signs.
B. The section on holiday banners would have my support except that this part has no definitions of
size, number, placement, interval or duration. As currently written, it might allow a permanent 200 foot
banner strung from light poles with the wording, "ITS A HOLIDAY. SHOP! SHOP! SHOP!" I hope that is
not your intention, but already I have seen cloth banners with the message, "Eat! Drink! Shop!" And
along with more specific definition, if these banners are supposed to be decorative, they should have no
selling language.
C. There is one group of businesses which has long put up garish and unapproved signage which was
not part of their master sign program. The special interest legislation which would set in stone approval
for up to 194 new signs, each the size of the door to a house should be disallowed.
At a previous Council meeting, the owner of one of these businesses made the unsubstantiated
assertion that they were necessary for their success. But the fact that these businesses are operating in
large and shiny buildings, and even expanding their operations make me doubt that this is so. I think the
real reason may be that this is how they did business in the 50's, and they have not yet made a full
transition to modern retailing. But if the Council can make a finding of fact that such signs are really
necessary in Dublin -- and for this type of business only -- you should allow just the same number of pole
signs as now found in that dealership on Dublin Boulevard: Four.
When Hacienda Crossings came to East Dublin with spiffy new stores, our former downtown took a real
hit. Now the outlet stores are about to open in Livermore. Sadly, I would predict that we will see a
similar loss of business to that center. Would that it were on our side of the freeway, maybe on the
former Ikea site. Eliminating visual pollution on our boulevards will be one step toward attracting more
businesses and dependable tax revenue, and raising the property values in our community.