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Tuesday, 02 January 2007 |
WCC committee advises bench signs fall under existing ordinance
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
Advertisements as part of roadside park benches will be restricted under the city’s existing sign ordinance, if Wapakoneta City Council members approve a council committee’s recommendation.
Streets, Alleys and Sidewalks Committee members recommended advertising benches be considered signs as defined by existing city ordinances under the category of “other” signs. The recommendation states signs would be subject to all aspects of the ordinance including but not limited to the permit process, fees per sign and location requirements.
“We are saying the advertising benches need to be recognized as a sign, and they must fall under all the tenets of the ordinance that exists,” said Councilor-at-large Deb Zwez, who penned the recommendation as a member of the committee. “Before they can be placed, people wishing to put up an advertising bench must go through the same procedure as anybody else that wants to put up a sign.”
Committee Chair Rodney Metz clarified the recommendation would still permit advertising benches.
“We are still allowing them to do the benches — whether or not they complete the entire process is up to the advertising bench supplier,” Metz said during Wednesday’s committee meeting.
Metz said he would make an addition to the committee’s recommendation before presenting the potential legislation to councilors at today’s meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
“I will add the appropriate sizes to this recommendation and then at meeting I will read this recommendation, and then Denny Faller can review it to make sure it can pass all the necessary requirements,” Metz said referring to a review by the city’s law director. “The location of where the advertising benches can be placed is defined by the city’s existing sign ordinance.”
Metz told the Wapakoneta Daily News the size recommendation will likely be approximately 2-feet tall by 6-feet long. He favored stipulating the size for the sign because “I don’t think anybody here wants to see them get any larger than they already are.”
Metz said the advertising benches would fall under a section of the city’s ordinances restricting them from residential areas. They also must be placed outside the city right of way. State and federal law restrict signs being placed inside the state or federal right of way.
“In regard to the type of materials to be used, Planning Commission will have the authority to make those recommendations,” Metz said.
The recommendation also rescinds permission granted to Schneider National Sign Co. of Wapakoneta to place advertising benches within the city. Councilors granted the late Cal Schneider permission on April 2, 1997, to place signs within the corporation limits. The agreement failed to stipulate a a maximum number of signs.
Councilors are scheduled to hear at tonight’s meeting the first reading of two ordinances granting Safety-Service Director Rex Katterheinrich the authorization to enter into agreements between the city and Duchouquet Township and city material suppliers.
The first ordinance authorized the safety-service director to advertise for bids and enter into contracts for certain materials, services and equipment rental required for the operation of the various city departments.
Contracts for materials will not be permitted to exceed one year.
The second ordinance authorizes the safety-service director to enter an agreement with the Duchouquet Township trustees for fire protection and emergency medical service.
Rates for EMS service provided to township residents is defined by ordinance for “non-residents.” The service to be charged to the trustees shall be negotiated based on the taxes collected by the trustees for those services.
The existing contract is set to expire March 31. The proposed contract would begin April 1 and end March 31, 2008.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 January 2007 )
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