2006 0119 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting January 19,2006 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida Public Speakers: Richard Coker, Esq.; Steven Lesnick; Babak Raheb Commissioner Goodman asked if we extended the deadline for the sign ordinance. Assistant City Manager Vera noted in Section 265-60, that any lawful permanent sign built prior to the adoption of the Chapter that does not comply with the maximum height, maximum area, or the number of signs permitted as set forth in this Chapter shall be removed or altered to comply with the requirements of this Chapter within 12-months from the date ofthe adoption of this Chapter, and he noted the following amortization periods: Pole signs - 3 months; monumental and free standing signs - 6 months; permanent wall signs - 6 months; window signs - immediately; and multi-tenant center signs - 12 months. Richard Coker, Esq., representing Steven Lesnick who is the owner of the Doll House, said with respect to the number of signs, he is completely willing to comply by taking down those signs, but he has a unique circumstance because he has a double frontage establishment on Sunny Isles Boulevard which is two major thoroughfares with people driving fast going both ways. He said he wants the ability to face the wall signs at an angle that will attract traffic, as he is entitled to have two signs, one of 50-square feet and one of 2S-square feet. He said the appropriate face for that permitted sign is on the east face, still facing roadway but is facing an alley that connects the two streets. He asked that the City allow in the Code the flexibility not to increase the number of signs but if there is a more appropriate location for a sign face that faces a roadway, to move it to another face, to allow that sign to be shifted over to face that traffic in a more appropriate way. He said the other issue is an amortization period for the roof sign, where would that fall? He said because ofthe Hurricane, it may take longer to get a sign made. He said he would like to speak to the Assistant City Manager between first and second readings regarding this Ordinance. Mayor Edelcup said he does not have a problem with a second sign on a different wall but he does have a problem on the degree of the angle of a sign. He said temporary signs can't be delayed that long, he saw that the largest landlord in the City is here and he doesn't seem to have any problem getting signs made. Vice Mayor Brezin said that Mr. Coker referred to cars speeding through there where they would not be able to see the signs, but she said if they are going the legal speed limit they should be able to read that sign. Commissioner Thaler requested at the next reading to see sketches of any degree changes, but Mayor Edelcup said that we already saw the signs during the workshops. Mayor Edelcup said that we can't do site specific signage reviews, we have to pass a general Ordinance, and then have the staff work with each of the retailers on specific signs. City Attorney Ottinot said that he and Assistant City Manager Vera will meet with Mr. Coker and work out the issues. Steven Lesnick, owner of the Doll House, clarified that the 50-square foot sign will be in the alleyway facing the east, Mayor Edelcup said that we can't talk about site specific at this time. Mr. Lesnick clarified that the angle ofthe sign would be maybe 1 0-IS degrees. Mr. Lesnick asked when the roof sign has to come down and Assistant City Manager Vera said It should have come down in December 200S. City Attorney Ottinot said that staff will work out these issues. Babak Raheb said that he owns the cleaners in RK shopping center and he is located at the back of the center, and he used to have bigger signs in the front but since the change in monument signs, he has two small monument signs and asked if they could make the second 4