Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-09 ACE MINUTES• • • ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE IN ENGLEWOOD O ct ob e r 8, 200 9 I. CALL TO ORDER -~( The regular meeting of the Alliance for Commerce in Englewood (ACE) was called to order at 11 :37 a.m . in the City Council Conference Room of the Englewood Civ ic Center, Chair Lonborg presiding. Present: Lonborg, McDermott, Vasilas, Panetta Absent: Schalk, Espinoza Also present: Jim Woodward, Mayor Joe Jefferson, City Council Liaison Colleen Mello, Englewood Chamber of Commerce Randy Penn, City Councilperson Staff present: Alan White, Community Deve lopment Director ~l Darren Hollingsworth, Economic Development Coordinator Michael Flaherty, Deputy City Manager AP PRO VAL OF MIN UTES September 10, 2009 Chair Lonborg stated that the Minutes of September 10, 2009 were to be considered for approval. It was determined there was a quorum. Chair Lonborg asked if there were any changes or adjustments to the Minutes . There were none. McDermott moved: Vasilas seconded: THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 BE APPROVED AS WRITIEN. The motion carried unanimously. 11. ACE BUSINES S ~j RECA P OF PUBLIC MEET ING ON TEMPORARY SIG NAGE Director White provided a recap of the public meeting held on September 22nd regarding temporary signs (banners and a-frame or sandwich board si gns). He noted a moratorium on enfo rcement of temporary signs was put in p lace for four months to all ow the City to review and/or make changes to the current Code. ACE has been asked to provide sign code change recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration . Mr. Penn and Mr. Jefferson commented on the public meeting. Mayor Woodward provided more detailed information on the Resolution. He noted if the update of the sign code is not 1 completed by February 1, 2010 the moratorium could be extended or cease and the code will continue as is until such time as the Planning and Zoning Commission and ACE have • completed their review . • • Mr. Penn said he spoke with numerous people who would like to see changes to the Code, but said he also had several people tell him they felt there was a good process in place and wondered why the process was being usurped . Chair Lonborg suggested ACE separate new businesses from existing businesses in regards to temporary signage. She also suggested ACE make a recommendation on duration, a rest period requirement, the number of yearly renewal periods, and the approval or turnaround time from the City. It was pointed out the initial and renewal turnaround times from the City are currently very quick. BANNERS EXISTING BUSINESSES It was decided a realistic duration period for existing businesses would be 6 weeks with 3 renewals, for a total of 24 weeks per year. Renewal periods would be allowed to run consecutively and banners could be changed out periodically within the original or renewal period without the applicant coming back to the City . NEW BUSINESSES The duration for a temporary sign will be for 6 months. After 6 months new businesses will be considered an existing business and will be required to follow that portion of the Code. Discussion ensued. Director White noted currently there are no guidelines in the Sign Code that requires a permanent sign to be made out of specific materials . There is a business on Broadway that has a banner as a permanent sign . Is that permissible? Ms. Lonborg asked that the issue of permanent signage be discussed later. Ms. McDermott asked what the purpose of a rest period would be. Ms. Lonborg if you have a banner up for a long time it becomes wallpaper and nobody pays attention to it. Ms. McDermott said that should not be the City's concern. Ms. Lonborg agreed. ls there a need or desire to regulate? Vasilas moved : McDermott seconded: TO RECOMMEND TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION THE TEMPORARY SIGN CODE BE AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: 2 • Discussion ensued . 1. INCREASE THE DURATION PERIOD FROM 2 WEEKS TO 6 WEEKS ; 2 . ALLOW FOR MAXIMUM OF 3 RENEWAL PERIODS EACH YEAR; AND 3 . ALLOW FOR THE INITIAL 6 WEEKS AND THE 3 RENEWAL PERIODS TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY . Ms . McDermott stated she would like to make a friendly amendment. She would like the motion to read as follows: TO COMPILE ALL INFORMATION DISCUSSED IN DRAFT FORMAT AND REVIEW AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING BEFORE THE ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE MOVES FORWARD WITH TEMPORARY SIGN CODE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Mr. Vasilas accepted Ms. McDermott's friendly amendment. The motion carried unanimousl y . A-FRAME OR SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS • Mr. Flaherty said such signs are prohibited in the City under the current Sign Code and are also prohibited in the right-of-way by Chapter 11 of the Unified Development Code. • Chair Lonborg asked for the definition of right-of-way. Mr. Flaherty said anything that belongs to the City. Chair Lonborg asked if there was room for such a sign on the downtown sidewalks. Mr. Flaherty said a lot of times the buildings are built right up to the right-of-way. If buildings are set back there may be room . Chair Lonborg asked Mr. Flaherty if ACE could legally recommend these signs be placed in the City right-of-way . Mr. Flaherty said ACE could : 1. Recommend they be allowed by the Sign Code and 2. Amend Chapter 11 to allow for a permit. Mr. Flaherty noted the City of Denver did the very same thing about a year ago . It would be very similar to the licensing agreement that is required for outdoor seating. You look into things like does it interfere with pedestrian traffic flow and does it conform to ADA guidelines. Mr. Flaherty did not believe there was a timeframe attached to the use of the sandwich boards in the Denver code; he believed it was on an annual basis and they could be used every day. Mayor Woodward suggested a cop y of the Denver code be provided to all ACE members for their review . Staff will provide a copy to ACE members before the November meeting. 3 • • • Ms. McDermott asked why the signs are currently prohibited . Director White said the category that is prohibited is portable signs and that means anything from the sandwich boards to signs you wheel out. They are prohibited because of liability issues . He asked the members if they wanted to deal with all portable signs or just the sandwich board signs . Chair Lonborg asked if it is likely that the Denver code will address those issues . Mr. Flaherty said he believed so . Chair Lonborg said she felt the group did not have enough information to deal with this issue. She asked if the discussion could be tabled until the November meeting. Mr. Vasilas asked if everyone would be willing to attend a special meeting if needed. The members agreed they would be. The discussion will be tabled until November. Director White will research codes of other municipalities to see how they handle the situation. Ms . Mello asked Staff to see if the other codes have a standard height requirement. A two foot high sign is more apt to be tripped over; four feet would be better. Chair Lonborg asked if there are any other types of signs the members need to discuss . Mr. Penn said other portable type signs. Chair Lonborg asked Director White to bring information on the permanent sign code to the November meeting. Permanent sign material will also be discussed . SIGN CODE CHANGE PROCESS Discussion tabled for a future meeting. Ill. COMMENTS & EVENTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE El . Ms. Colleen Mello is the new Executive Director at the Chamber and also owns Molly's Closet. She provided an update on upcoming Chamber functions. New city maps will be out in November. The holiday party will be held on December 8 1h. The Dining Directory is being updated . BID COMMENTS Ill · Mr. Vasilas said a videographer has been hired to work through Christmas. TV ads should appear in the spring. A webmaster has been hired to build a new website. Artwork for the remaining planters has been delayed due to the artist being injured . The BID expects the final artwork to be installed in the next few weeks . Arapahoe County is working on placing liens on properties that are delinquent in their assessment; at this time, there are a large number of delinquencies. Approximately $3 7,000 has not been received so far in 2009 . Mr. Jefferson asked what the TV ads will consist of. Mr. Vasilas said there will be three thirty second commercials with each featuring different businesses. The videographer has been 4 • • • asked to take pictures of every business in the BID area . They will be displa yed in the background of the TV ads . The area has been renamed "Englewood Shopping District" . Mr. Penn congratulated Mr. Vasilas and the BID on doing a great job along Broadway. He hears great comments from the public. Mayor Woodward asked about the holida y lighting pr.ogram. Mr. Vasilas said the BID has a meeting next week to discuss. Mr. Hollingsworth said it was his understanding the holiday lighting has already been budgeted by the City and the BID. Mayor Woodward suggested the Christmas tree be moved to another location . Last year it was hidden behind the grass artwork. Mr . Vasilas said he would take the Mayor 's comment to the Board and discuss at the meeting next week. ACE MEMBERS ·~· Mr. Panetta stated this would be his last ACE meeting. He is semi-retiring . Mr. Vasilas noted he would be out of town for the next ACE meeting scheduled for November 12, 2009. After discussion it was decided to hold the meeting on November 5, 2009. r-~· It = 7 , STAFF COMMENTS Mr. Hollingsworth invited all ACE members to attend the Denver Alliance Program and Reception being held at The Wildlife Experience on October 14, 2009 . No further business was brought forth for consideration . The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for November 5, 2009 . 5