The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutA002 - Requst for Sign Ordinance Change form Ames Little League f _ Memo City Manager's Office TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Steven L. Schainker, City Manager DATE: February 13,2008 SUBJECT: Request For Sign Ordinance Change On February 4, 2008, the City Council referred a letter from the President of the Ames Little League, Mark Kutchen, to revise the existing sign ordinance to allow advertising signs around baseball fields. Section 5.714 of the Municipal Code lists seven circumstances where signs are prohibited. On the seven prohibitions, two sections are influencing the staff s denial of a permit to erect advertising signs at the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex. Section 5.714 (4)prohibits any off-premise sign nearer than a 300-foot radius to any other off- premise sign. Apparently the baseball fields are closer than the 300-foot radius so advertising signs can not be placed on all the diamonds the Ames Little League would want. Section 5.714 (7)prohibits signs attached to or placed upon rocks, fences, trees, or utility poles. This section won't allow the Ames Little League to sell advertising space at any of the diamonds - assuming the only way to accomplish this objective is by attaching the sign to the fences. I believe smaller temporary signs could be allowed(a banner can be 100 square feet and a sign can be 32 square feet). A question has been raised how the Ames Booster Club received approval from the City to place advertising signs at the high school baseball diamond in Brookside Park. In checking this issue since it was raised, the Parks and Recreation Director has indicated that no City approval has been granted for the advertising signs at Brookside. In order to modify the ordinance to allow for advertising in this unique circumstance, the Ames Little League is suggesting that two exemptions to the prohibitions outlined in Section 5.714 be allowed. The proposed modifications that would deal with athletic fields only would eliminate the 300-foot separation requirement for off-premise signs and would grant the ability to attach these advertising signs to fences. j t � r Since HYSC and Brookside are situated in a Government/Airport zoning district, you might consider allowing these exemptions only in this one zoning district. (Off-premise signs are currently not allowed in residential, village, or Hospital/Medical zones.) In addition, if you are fearful that advertising signs are unsightly and could degrade the property values of homes situated in close proximity to athletic fields, you could consider a special use permitting process to protect the neighboring properties. Of course, the establishment of this type of permitting process will add to the bureaucracy involved in obtaining sign approval. I hope this information is helpful in clarifying the issues. Let me know if you have any other questions. \sls c: Mark Kutchen, Ames Little League Doug Marek, City Attorney David Brown, Building Official Diane Voss, City Clerk � R "Mark Kutchen" To <bobanncamp@aol.com>, <drice827@msn.com>, :.` <mkutchen@mchsi.com> <email@jamilarson.org>, <1 doll r@gmail.com>, 02/03/2008 12:56 PM cc <rmahayni@isunet.net>, <matthewgoodman@mchsi.com>, bcc Subject Request to Change City Code Honorable Mayor and City Council, In October, I sent a letter to all of you on behalf of the Ames Little League Baseball Board of Directors and our 477 participants and their families. The letter requested a couple of changes in the City Code to allow us to fundraise via selling advertising spots on our outfield fences. A copy of the letter is attached. This type of program is used throughout the country at many athletic venues and has had great success. Based on our recent experience of getting 3 corporate sponsors to donate funds to purchase scoreboards in exchange for them being recognized on the scoreboards, we have every reason to believe the advertising program would be a success. I was greatly disappointed to learn from the City Clerk's office that you had decided to not take action on this request. I would encourage you to reconsider this. With a slight change in the code, we could raise funds that would lead to better facilities and lower participation fees, which would likely lead to increased participation and greater satisfaction by those that do participate. I have discussed this issue with City Staff before and have been told it would be illegal for us to proceed with this program since it clearly violates the code. When I inquired as to why the City of Ames allows Ames High School to not comply with this same code in the city's Brookside Park, I was told that City Staff does not actively enforce this provision of the code. When I asked if we could proceed with our program since the code was not being enforced, I was told no and the City Staff would enforce the code with Ames Little League Baseball. This practice of allowing one group to ignore the code and enforcing against others seems greatly unfair. Please don't start enforcing the code and cut off a significant revenue stream for the Ames High School Athletic Department. Just change the code so that all groups are treated equally and fairly and raise funds by selling advertising. M Mark Kutchen President Ames Little League Baseball 291-1107 JkS 4kbe image001.ipg 100507LettertoCityCouncil.pdf r � y, +'" * Ames Little League Baseball, P.O. Box 1713,Ames, Iowa 50010 Board of Directors October 5, 2007 2007 to 2009 Directors Ames City Council Brian Agnitsch PO Box 811 515 Clark Ave. Ron Christensen Ames, Iowa 50010 Jeff Clendenen Matt Elbert Re: Request to Change City Code Lisa Erickson Dear Ames City Council: Mark Kutchen Ames Little League Baseball is hereby requesting that the City of Ames modify two Steve Mayberry sections of the City of Ames Municipal Code that pertain to signs. Section 5.714 (4) prohibits off premise signs from being closer than 300 feet to any other off premise Bryan Rademacher signs and Section 5.714 (7)prohibits signs from being attached to fences. We are Flynn Ravner requesting that both of these sections be modified to allow at athletic facilities only off Mike Schmit premise temporary signs to be placed next to each other and to be attached to fences. Tori Shahidi The requested changes would enhance our ability to raise funds to support our non- profit operation. We try very hard to keep our user fees low so that all the children of Tony Stevens Ames that want to play baseball can. With all of the other organizations and 2006 to 2008 Directors fundraisers in town, local business get asked to make donations all the time and they have very limited donation funds. However, a lot of local businesses are willing to David Blakeley spend some of their advertising budgets for signs. We think we could be successful in Mike Brothers raising funds by charging a fee to have a sign posted on the outfield fences at our baseball fields during our baseball season which is about 90 days during the spring Bart Fowles and summer. Ron Frantzen Please review the request and let me know if you have any questions that Ames Little Rick Hansen League Baseball can address. I can be reached at mkutchen(a),mchsi.com or Chris Keenan 291-1107 at anytime. Bruce Maxwell Sincerely, Tim Simodynes Scott Thompson Mark Kutchen Rob Wallace President Jamie White Ames Little League Baseball Craig Wiebke Jim Withers ti,�r 'i► Character—Courage—Loyalty