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CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE O-1415-35 UPON SECOND AND FINAL READING: AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA AMENDING CHAPTER 18 (SIGN CODE), SECTION 18-308, FESTIVAL OR PUBLIC EVENTS BANNERS, TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF LIMITED LICENSES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
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BACKGROUND: Section 18-308 of the Sign Code was originally approved by City Council in August, 1995 (O-9596-6) as a revision to the City Sign Code to allow organizations the ability to place public event/festival signage in the public right-of-way for a specified period of time to advertise events. The language in the Code identifies that signs must announce "specific events or promotions that are of a legitimate public benefit to the community at large." Since 2010, 68 separate limited license agreements have been approved by Council as a Consent Docket item. This averages to 17 licenses per year or just over one per month that are considered by Council.
The Business and Community Affairs Committee of the City Council discussed this item at their meeting on February 5, 2015 and recommended that staff prepare this item to proceed through the public hearing process to amend the Sign Code to allow Festival or Public Event Banners to be approved administratively.
DISCUSSION: Chapter 18, Section 18-308 of the Sign Code outlines criteria for City Council approval of festival or public event banners to be placed in the public right-of-way. The process is initiated through a formal application process that is reviewed by Planning and Community Development Department staff and upon staff approval is recommended for approval to City Council through the granting of a "limited license". There is no fee for processing a limited license application.
Many of the requests are generally in the spring and summer months because more festivals occur in Norman in the warm-weather months. A majority of the requests are ...
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