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HomeMy WebLinkAbout176801 ® ORDINANCE NO. 17.680 • 2 3 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND LITTLE ROCK, ARK., 4 REV. CODE §§ 36 -530, -531 and -536 (1988) TO 5 REDEFINE SNIPE SIGNS AND THE PENALTIES; TO 6 DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER 7 PURPOSES. 8 Short Title 9 10 An Emergency Ordinance to Redefine Snipe Signs" 11 12 WHEREAS, the City has a comprehensive code that deals with the placement of 13 signs in City right of way; and 14 WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors to make certain that 15 temporary signs, or snipe signs, are not subjected to criminal penalties as a means of 16 enforcement. 17 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF 18 DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: 19 Section 1. Little Rock, Ark., Rev. Code § 36 -530 (1988) ( "LRC ") is hereby 20 amended so the definition of "snipe sign," reads as follows: 21 Snipe sign means a temporary sign or poster affixed to a tree, 22 fence, utility pole, or any object in the public right of way. 23 For purposes of this definition is not limited to the definition 24 of "sign" found elsewhere in this Code and means any 25 document that communicates a message or symbol. 26 Section 2. LRC § 36 -531 is hereby amended to read as follows: 27 (a) Except as set forth in subsection (b), any person 28 convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this 29 chapter shall be punished as provided in Section 1 -9 of the -I- (Title comcted 4- 1 -98.) -2- I code, an *ay be subject to an action to abate* sign as a 2 nuisance. 3 (b) Any snipe sign that is placed in violation of this chapter 4 shall be subject to immediate removal and, if a person 5 responsible for the placement of the snipe sign can be 6 identified, that person shall subject be subject to a civil 7 penalty equal to the necessary costs of removal of the sign, 8 plus any cost of repair for damage caused by the sign, or a 9 removal fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for up to five 10 snipe signs and an additional twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for 11 each additional five signs, whichever amount is greater. 12 (c) Costs incurred by the City shall be charged to the owner 13 of the sign, or to the owner of the property upon which the 14 sign is located, or both. These costs may constitute a lien 15 upon the properly and may be collected by any lawful means. 16 Section 3. LRC § 36- 536(a) amended as follows: 17 (a) Except for signs in the public right of way which are subject to 18 immediate removal, the administrator shall issue a written order to 19 any alleged violator of the sign ordinance that, in the judgment of 20 the administrator, a violation of this chapter exists and the sign must 21 be removed. The order shall specify those sections of this chapter 22 deemed to be violated and shall state that the person has ten (10) 23 days from the date of the order in which to abate the alleged 24 violation or to appeal to the board of zoning adjustment. 25 Notwithstanding this provision, if within the previous twelve month 26 period the administrator has issued an order that has been upheld by 27 the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a particular sign, the 28 notice shall require the person to abate the alleged -2- = M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 violation within one (1) business day. If the violator fails to appeal or to correct the violation within the time allowed by this section, the sign shall be deemed illegal and shall be subject to immediate removal. Section 4. Severab3litt.v. In the event any title, section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, subparagraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance which shall remain in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional was not originally a part of this ordinance. Section S. Emergency. A clear understanding of the prohibition of signs on public rights of way and the types of penalties that are available for the improper placement of such signs is deemed by the Board of Directors to be essential to the public health, safety and welfare and, therefore, an emergency is declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its adoption. PASSED: February 17, 1998 ATTEST: APPROVED: Robbie Hancock, City Clerk Jim Didey, Mayor APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM: Thomas M. Carpenter, C Attorney -3- IFi �