§ 21.54.280. Design and brightness restrictions.

A.

Billboards shall not contain any of the following:

1.

Moving parts;

2.

Appendages, cut-out letters or figures that exceed twenty percent (20%) of the permitted sign area or that protrude more than twelve inches (12") beyond the flat surface of the sign face;

3.

Lights that flash, shimmer, glitter or give the appearance of flashing, shimmering or glittering. Exceptions to this restriction include time, temperature and smog index units, provided the frequency of change does not exceed four (4) second intervals;

4.

Walls or screens at the base of the sign which create a hazard to public safety or provide an attractive nuisance;

5.

Copy which simulates any traffic sign in a manner which confuses the public; or

6.

Devices which emit audible sound, or odor or particulate matter.

B.

For electronic billboards, the following restrictions also shall apply:

1.

The duration of each message displayed shall be at least eight (8) seconds;

2.

No message shall move, flash, shimmer, glitter, or give the appearance of moving, flashing, shimmering or glittering;

3.

There shall be a direct change from each message to the next, with no blank or dark interval in between, to avoid a flashing or blinking effect;

4.

Display of any form of motion or apparent motion within the message, and any form of video, are prohibited;

5.

Any sign area not comprising the electronic display panel is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, static sign area, appendages, cut-out letters, and figures. A frame surrounding the display panel up to twelve (12) inches in width shall be permitted, and shall not contain any sign copy or graphics, and shall not count toward the sign area;

6.

The brightness of the display surface shall be limited as follows:

a.

Dawn to dusk: unlimited;

b.

Dusk to dawn: the display surface shall not produce luminance in excess of 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light conditions, or the level recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) for the specific size and location of the billboard, whichever is less. Measurement of luminance shall be carried out in accordance with established scientific methods and industry standards, specifically IESNA TM-11-00, or a successive IESNA technical publication.

7.

The display brightness shall be controlled by a photocell or light sensor that adjusts the brightness to the required dusk-to-dawn level based on ambient light conditions without the need for human input. Use of other brightness adjustment methods, such as timer- or calendar-based systems, shall only be used as a backup system;

8.

The display shall be factory-certified as capable of complying with the above brightness standards. Such certification shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Director of Development Services;

9.

The billboard owner shall provide to the City, upon request, certification by an independent contractor that the brightness levels of the electronic billboard are in compliance with the requirements of this Section;

10.

All electronic billboards shall be oriented, and adequately shielded if necessary, so as to prevent the trespass of light and glare upon any residential land uses, including those in mixed-use districts, as existed on the date of building permit issuance; and

11.

All electronic billboards shall be equipped with a control system that, in the event of a display or control malfunction, "freezes" the display on either a single, unchanging message, or a blank screen.

( ORD-14-0006 § 1, 2014)