Call the meeting to order tonight, Planning Commission. Um our first agenda item tonight is the open forum. This is an opportunity for anyone to address the commission on an item not on the agenda and not on an application form that's coming to the commission at a future date. Uh there is no one in the audience tonight. So, um I think we'll we'll move along forward. Um and adapt the final agenda. So, commissioners our item is to adapt the final agenda. May I have a motion to adopt the final agenda? >> So moved. >> Um thank you, Commissioner Otterstatter. Could I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Krogh. All those in favor? >> And you say >> I. Any opposed? Thank you. Motion carries. Our next agenda item is to approve the minutes. Um the minutes of July 7th, 2026. Could I get a motion to approve those minutes? >> Motion to approve the meeting minutes from July 7th. >> Commissioner Kroll, thank you for the motion. Second? >> Second. >> I got a second from uh Commissioner Shower. Uh thank you. And all those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay, moving on to the meat and potatoes of our meeting tonight. Uh item 4.2 with a public hearing, the temporary ordinance for Highway 5 temporary signage. Um after a staff presentation, we're going to open the public hearing for those in the chambers this evening that wish to speak on the request. And um if there is anyone that comes in, we'll give them the uh correct time and opportunity. So, I'm going to turn over to the Community and Economic Development Director, Jen Brewington, for the staff presentation. >> Thank you. Chair and Commission, I apologize for the beautiful music behind us, but I will try to speak a little loud so you can hear me here. All right. So, just to get you started here. So, this ordinance is intended to provide a temporary relief for businesses impacted by the Highway 5 project, which is expected to continue throughout the end of 2027. The goal is to give the businesses additional flexibility with temporary signage so they can remain visible and help customers navigate their location during the closures. Rather than changing the city's permanent sign regulations, this ordinance provides the zoning administrator with the authority to approve reasonable deviations from section 21 signs of the zoning code on a case-by-case basis. I have delegated that authority to Brian, our city planner. Uh and this also allows staff to respond to any unique circumstances while maintaining oversight and ensuring signage remains appropriate. And then because this is a city-initiated ordinance by the council, uh the statutory 60-day rule does not apply. This is required public notice has been completed as well. And um overall, this is intended to provide practical support for the businesses. Real quick, before discussing the proposed ordinance, I want to take a moment to just explain what a temporary ordinance is. A temporary ordinance is a short-term ordinance adopted to address unique or temporary circumstances that are outside of the control of residents or businesses. Examples may include major road construction projects like the Highway 5, severe weather events, or declared local emergencies. Um while it is in fact a temporary ordinance has the same legal authority as any other ordinance adopted by the city. The key difference is that it does include a sunset date, meaning that it automatically expires once a temporary need has passed. And in this case, it'll be after the Highway 5 project. All right. So, this ordinance, like I mentioned, um is intentionally focused on the businesses. It applies only to commercial signs located within the central business district. The ordinance allows zoning administrator, which is Brian, to uh review the signs by case-by-case basis. They can also regulate the type of sign, how long signs may be in place, the materials, and the maximum number of temporary signs allowed. The intent is not to eliminate the city's sign standard, but rather just to provide that flexibility for the businesses. Zoning administrator retains the authority to ensure signage remains appropriate and does not create any safety or aesthetic concerns as well. And then finally, this is a temporary ordinance, so it includes automatic sunset date of December 31st, 2027, which aligns with the anticipated completion of the highway project which I mentioned. And then again, just letting you all know that this will maintain within our complete standards that we currently have. And with that, I have a sample motion on the screen for you all. >> Thank you for the presentation. And this item includes a public hearing, so is there anyone in the chambers who wish to comment on this item? Seeing no one, I'll uh ask if we could uh have a motion to close the public hearing. >> I'd move that we close the public hearing. >> Second. >> Okay, we got a motion and a second. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Thank you. Um public hearing's closed, so we'll open the floor to the planning commission and and commissioners to discuss questions or comments. >> I just have one, Jen. Uh first of all, I support this temporary ordinance, makes perfect sense supporting our businesses during this tumultuous time. Uh just that the draft ordinance I saw sunsetted in uh December 31 of 2026. So, I'd just ask that the city staff go back and review that to make sure that it's actually 2027. >> That was probably a typo on our end. Thank you for that. >> Very good. Thank you. >> What's the reason for the 90-day limit? >> Good question, Commissioner. The 90-day is just so that we can maintain that that the signs are staying in good condition. Uh we don't want them to have to come back every 30 days to reapply for a sign um ordinance or temporary. This just gives them that flexibility to maintain those 90 days, and then we'll just contact them and make sure that those signs are staying aesthetically pleasing and such. It was just a date that we we as staff decided on for review. >> But they would have to reapply at the end of 90 days to get another one. >> Correct. >> Have you like floated that past some of the businesses? I mean, it just seems like I think they'll want them up the whole time. I don't know. >> Com- Commissioner Furman, temporary signs and banners right now have a limit of 30 days. So, this is three times that length. The reason that there was an initially a 30-day limit as a standard practice is you're looking at signs that aren't built to a high durable quality to be outside for a long time. So, this 90 days provides a greater flexibility without having to come back and have those limitations in our current code. >> We also have not received any requests for these yet. So, this is something that we are just starting to work on. Uh we will be bringing it to folks like the VBA and and making sure we are getting feedback to your point. Mhm. >> Cool. Has there been a identified location on where to where to put them? >> Commissioner, no, there hasn't yet. Um we will be flexible with that as well. Um we've talked about possibly right away allowing that for the time being as well. Um but we haven't determined where. And really it would be kind of request on the business, too. If they want it more on Highway 5 or if they want it somewhere else located within downtown, we'd probably be flexible with that as well. >> Got it. And ultimately then it'll be up to to Brian to keep it reasonable. So >> Correct. >> There's only one corner we can pick, one of the businesses can't put a 20 by 30 sign and dwarf the rest of them, right? >> Right. We want to make sure it's fair. Mhm. >> And can you confirm that the draft ordinance for the Highway 5 construction is and by the ending date of December 31, 2027? I thought it could push into 2028. >> There are chances it could push to 2028. Yes, so >> consider that with regard to the expiration of this temporary ordinance. >> Um commissioners, uh the expected date is to be completed prior to December of 2027. We confirmed that with city engineering staff. Um if the project did push out further than that, it's likely those type of things wouldn't involve full road closures or wouldn't involve any significant traffic impacts that would affect traffic coming through and seeing our businesses from Highway 5 as they would uh prior to when everything gets torn up. >> And my understanding is we would have the ability to extend this as well if we would like to. We just need to pick a date to where it ends. And that was just the date we came up with before the 2028 date. Mhm. >> Sounds good. And can we confirm that this that the application process for the temporary signs is going to be fast-tracked or is is something like that so it doesn't drag out for the for the CBD businesses? >> So uh commission the the process of a sign review permit's going to be the same as it is today. So we're not adding any type of priority to it, um but when we do receive um a sign ordinance or a sign permit request, um I'm actually the one who who does I'm the primary on those reviews. When the request would come to want to go outside what our temporary or excuse me our temporary banner and signage language restricts, then at that point we would go to Brian to confirm that that is reasonable within his judgment of what's going on. Um but it would follow the same process and that process involves looking at time um place and manner. So a lot big part of that's going to be safety um and the potential risk to something going wrong with the sign creating a safety issue is our primary concern with it. >> Is there a fee associated with that application for review, I assume? >> Uh commissioner, it'd be the same it'd be the standard fee for for signs as identified in the fee schedule. >> Are the businesses allowed to ask for more than one sign? >> So when we look at or commissioner, when we look at where we're going where it's listed So the exceptions that we're looking at is just the size and the type, duration, materials, and yes, the number of signs. So every situation's going to be unique, especially throughout the project. So we want and that's one of the reasons to still keep a 90 days on it is as the project changes, we need to reevaluate to make sure that the sign is still reasonably placed, reasonable condition, and meet all the criteria for the whole purpose of going through a temporary ordinance. Thank you, Commissioners. Any other questions or comments? Okay, with that I'd ask for a motion. >> I make a motion to recommend the City Council approve the temporary ordinance granting the zoning administration to provide reasonable deviations for temporary signs within the central business district. >> Thank you, Commissioner Croth. Could I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Commissioner Crype. We have a motion a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Thank you. Motion carries. We will move on to the miscellaneous section of our agenda. And this section is for any reports from staff. >> None from staff. >> None from staff. Any from the Planning Commission members? None. Commissioners, no more items this evening. May I get a motion to adjourn? >> Motion to adjourn. >> I have a motion second. And a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Again, motion carries. Meeting adjourned. >> Thank you, ma'am.