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I I I Council Meeting Minutes January 23, 1996 Page 7 Council Business. continued Williams asked what is the number of rented single family homes in New Brighton. Mattila said there are about 98 non-homesteaded single family homes in New Brighton. Williams found the realtors to be unwavering of their opinion that the program is not needed. The realtors assumed the investigation would be performed by staff as opposed to contract investigators, and that repairs needed to be done before the house is sold. He feels the program could lend itself to many options, and in some cases many buyers would rather make repairs in their own fashion. Larson said the Planning Commissioners suggested that inspection reports performed by the realtors may be an excellent method to evaluate the City's housing stock. Also, the City could consider a funding program for homeowners to make repairs and improvements to their properties. Benke emphasized the need to provide safe housing in a non-intrusive way much like working with the realtors in a cooperative effort. Motion by Gunderman, seconded by Larson, to SUPPORT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO NOT ADOPT A POINT OF SALE PROGRAM AT THIS TIME, BUT CONTINUE TO MONITOR HOUSING CONDITIONS IN THE CITY AND REINVESTIGATE THE POINT OF SALE PROGRAM AT SOME FUTURE DATE, IF NECESSARY, ALSO, TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF LICENSING SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING. 4 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. Mattila presented amendments to the Sign Ordinance. In January, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider changes to the billboard section of the Sign Ordinance. The Commission recommends that Council direct the City Attorney to prepare an amendment to Section 9-130 of the Sign Ordinance prohibiting new billboards in the City. Staff surveyed nine surrounding cities to see how they regulated billboards, and was surprised at how permissive the New Brighton Sign Ordinance is in relation to billboards. Of the nine cities, five adopted regulations which prohibit new billboards. Mounds View is in the process of prohibiting new billboards, and Fridley is actively eliminating existing billboards through code enforcement and property negotiations. New Brighton requires billboards be setback 200 ft. from a residential property line or 150 ft. from a structure, however, other cities require billboards be setback 500 ft. from residential lines. As for billboard height limitations, many other communities restrict billboards to 25 ft. as compared to New Brighton's limitation to 35 ft. in height. Staff prepared five options, and the Planning Commission recommended Option #5 (Amending of Section 9-130 of the Sign Ordinance to prohibit new billboards). Benke asked how many existing billboards would be affected by Option #5. Mattila said the II existing billboards which are on 1-694 and 35W would not be impacted, but no new billboards would be allowed. Benke confirmed that the existing billboards would then become non-conformities if Option #5 were adopted. Gunderman asked if the City could establish an amortization period by which all existing billboards be removed. LeFevere said it is permissible by law to allow a non- conforming use to continue until the investment is recouped. Council Business Point of Sale Program Report 96-026 Amendments to Sign Ordinance - Billboards Report 96-027