12-08-09 Item 25South Miami
J&Pnerica City
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI t ( r
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
INTER - OFFICE MEMORANDUM 2001
To: The Honorable Mayor Feliu and Members of the Ci Commission
Via: Roger M. Carlton, Acting City Manager -
From: Thomas J. Vageline, Director
Planning and Zoning Departmen
Date: December 8, 2009 ITEM No.
a
Subject:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE II, ENTITLED
"SIDEWALKS" OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING NEW
SECTION 17 -26 ENTITLED "SIDEWALK ADVERTISING; USING STREETS OR
SIDEWALKS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES ", WHICH REGULATION WILL MAKE
IT UNLAWFUL TO USE STREETS, SWALE AREAS, OR SIDEWALKS UNLESS
EXPRESSLY PERMITTED BY SECTION 20 -4.3 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT
CODE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BACKGROUND
In recent months the City has received complaints that advertising signs promoting businesses are
appearing on sidewalks or streets at off - premise locations and in some cases are being displayed by
individuals standing in these locations. This practice creates clutter on City streets, distracts
drivers' attention, and is not fair to businesses who follow existing strict rules when placing signs
and advertising on their buildings. It would be appropriate and in the public interest and safety to
prohibit off premises signage or advertising on public sidewalks, Swale areas and public streets.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION
The City of South Miami Land Development Code which regulates on site building signage does
not set forth regulations for off premises signage and advertising on public sidewalks, swale areas
or public streets. However, Chapter 17, Article II of the City's Code of Ordinances entitled
"Sidewalks" does provide regulations requiring maintenance of sidewalks and sets forth uses
which are prohibited on sidewalks. This chapter of the City Code can be amended to provide
regulations which prohibit off premises signage or advertising on public sidewalks, swale areas
and public streets. The regulations would also prohibit individuals from displaying advertising
while standing on public sidewalks or streets.
The placement of these restrictions in the City Code allows for wider enforcement action by both
Police as well as Code Enforcement officers. A violation of this regulation would allow an arrest
of any individual displaying an ad and would also allow the City to cite the business which is
2
sponsoring or displaying the signage. A citation under City Code Section 13 -16, entitled
"Revocation for violation of the land development code or ordinances ", could result in the
revocation of the occupational license and /or a daily fine of up to $500 per day of violation.
Regardless of the severe potential penalties for a violation, the City's goal will be to achieve
voluntary compliance through education and persuasion.
The actual wording of the amendment is contained in the attached draft ordinance and shown
below.
Article II SIDEWALKS
Sec. 17 -26. "Sidewalk Advertising; using streets or sidewalks for advertising purposes ".
It shall be unlawful to use any portion of any public sidewalk, swale area or public street in
the City for advertising or display purposes unless expressly permitted by Section 20 -4.3
" Signage regulations" of the Land Development Code; and it shall be unlawful for any
person to stand or walk on any public street, swale area or public sidewalk of the City
carrying an advertising or display sign unless expressly permitted by Section 20 -4.3 " Signage
regulations" of the Land Development Code.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the attached draft ordinance be approved on first reading.
Attachments:
Draft Ordinance
City Code Sec. 13 -16
Copy of Public Notices
TJ VISA Y
X. (Comm Items120W ]2- 8 -WCity Code Amend Prohibit Sidewalk Signs Revised CM Report doc
I DRAFT
2
3 ORDINANCE NO.
4
5 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
6 OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE II,
7 ENTITLED "SIDEWALKS" OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES BY
8 ADDING NEW SECTION 17 -26 ENTITLED "SIDEWALK ADVERTISING; USING
9 STREETS OR SIDEWALKS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES ", WHICH
10 REGULATION WILL MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO USE STREETS, SWALE AREAS,
11 OR SIDEWALKS UNLESS EXPRESSLY PERMITTED BY SECTION 20 -4.3 OF
12 THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY,
13 ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
14
15 WHEREAS, the City has received complaints that advertising signs promoting
16 businesses are appearing on sidewalks or streets at off - premise locations; and
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18 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami Land Development Code does not set forth
19 regulations for off premises signage and advertising on public sidewalks, swale areas or
20 public streets; and
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22 WHEREAS, the Chapter 17, Article II of the City's Code of Ordinances does
23 provide regulations requiring maintenance of sidewalks and sets forth uses which are
24 prohibited on sidewalks; and
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26 WHEREAS, it would be appropriate and in the public interest and safety to
27 supplement these regulations by prohibiting off premises signage or advertising on public
28, sidewalks, swale areas and public streets.
29
30 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF
31 THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, THAT:
32
33 Section 1. The City Commission hereby approves amending Chapter 17, Article II of
34 the City's Code of Ordinances entitled "Sidewalks" by adding a new Section 17 -26 to read as
35 follows:
36
37 Chapter 17 Streets and sidewalks
38 * * *
39 Article II SIDEWALKS
40 * * *
41 Sec. 17 -26. "Sidewalk Advertising, using streets or sidewalks for advertising purposes ".
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43 It shall be unlawful to use any portion of any public sidewalk, swale area or public
44 street in the City for advertising or display purposes unless expressly permitted by
45 Section 20 -4.3 " Signage regulations" of the Land Development Code; and it shall be
46 unlawful for any person to stand or walk on any public street, swale area or public
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sidewalk of the City carrying an advertising or display sign unless expressly permitted
by Section 20 -4.3 "Signage regulations" of the Land Development Code.
Section 2. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of
this ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section 3. If any section, clause, sentence, or phrase of this ordinance is for any
reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, this holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
Section 4. This ordinance shall be effective immediately after the adoption hereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2009
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED:
MAYOR
1St Reading:
2nd Reading:
COMMISSION
VOTE:
Mayor Feliu:
Vice Mayor Beasley:
Commissioner Palmer:
Commissioner Newman:
Commissioner Sellars:
X: \Comm Items\2009 \12 -8 -09 \City Code Amend Prohibit Sidewalk Signs Ord.doc
§ 13 -13 SOUTH MIAMI CODE § 13 -16
(2) The purchaser shall produce a properly execute instru-
ment showing the transfer of stock of goods and of the lease
or deed to the property;
(3) The purchaser shall file an application for license, and shall
qualify in all respects, as provided by law and by the ordi -.
nances of the city, as an applicant for a license, as if he or
she had applied for the license in the first instance; and
(4) A fee shall be paid to the finance department in connection
with such transfer, based on ten (10) percent of the annual
license tax, but not less than three dollars ($3.00) nor more
than twenty -five dollars ($25.00).
(Ord. No. 1579, § 12, 4- 18 -95)
Sec. 13 -14. Lease department license required.
Every person operating what is commonly known as "lease de-
partment" in any store shall pay a license for the operation of
each department so leased according to the proper classification
of the business or occupation as set forth therein.
(Ord. No. 1579, § 12, 4- 18 -95)
Sec. 13-15. Termination of license on notice of bankrupt-
Cy.
When any person engaged in mercantile or other business in
the city shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or
when any such person shall be adjudicated a voluntary or an
involuntary bankrupt or declared insolvent, any license thereto-
fore issued, authorizing such person to do business in the city,
shall immediately be terminated and shall, upon such assign-
ment for the benefit of creditors or upon such adjudication in
bankruptcy, immediately become null and void.
(Ord. No. 1579, § 12,-4- 18 -95)
Sec. 13 -16. Revocation for violation of the land develop-
ment code or ordinances.
The license of any person for the operation of any business may
be revoked by the city manager at any time, upon notice of vio-
lation of any of the provisions of the land development code or
ordinances of the city; applicable provisions of the county code;
Supp. No. 49 172
§ 13 -16 LICENSES. § 13 -16
laws of the state; violation of the terms and conditions of any
development permit, covenant, public restriction or waiver; or for
any other good and sufficient reason. In the event that an appeal
is filed by any person under section 13 -27, the city manager may
stop or suspend any construction authorized by the waiver until
a decision has been made on the appeal. In the event the city
manager should determine that the suspension of the construc-
tion could cause imminent peril to life or property, the city man-
ager may permit the construction to continue upon such condi-
tions and limitations, including furnishing of an appropriate bond,
as may be deemed proper under the circumstances.
(Ord. No. 1579, § 12, 4- 18 -95)
Sec. 13 -17. 13.eissuance of license; payment of debts due
city prerequisite..
Any person being delinquent in the payment of any assess-
ment, taxes, fees or any moneys due unto the city shall, as a.
prerequisite to the reissuance of. an occupational license, be re-
quired to pay any assessment, taxes, fees or sums of money of any
nature whatsoever due unto the city before the aforesaid occupa-
tional license will be reissued by the authorities of the city. This
requirement shall pertain to any assessment, tax, fee or charge
due for services rendered the premises occupied by such business
or any fee, tag or assessment or charge of whatever nature re-
quired for services rendered the aforesaid business location, but
the same shall not impair any obligation on the part of the prop-
erty owner to pay any sums due onto the city by virtue of fees,
assessments, taxes or charges in this section shall be deemed to
require the good standing of any business within the city limits
prior to its being qualified to conducting business therein.
(Ord. No. 1579, § 12, 4- 18 -95)
Sec. 13 -18. Regulatory provisions remain in effect.
Unless otherwise herein specifically excepted, changed or dif-
ferentiated, all qualifying or regulatory provisions of the city ap-
plicable to or affecting any of the businesses, operations, occupa-.
tions or classifications covered by this chapter shall be and remain
in full force and effect.
(Ord. No. 1579, § 12, 4- 18 -95)
Supp. No. 49 172.1
§ 13 -25 SOUTH hf1A'_%TI CODE § 13 -27
(c) Occupational licenses shall be considered delinquent im-
mediately on October 1 of every year. Fines for delinquent
occupational licenses shall be assessed per section 13 -2; in addi-
tion, those licenses not renewed by January 31 shall be subject to
a two- hundred - fifty - dollar penalty per occupational license.
(Ord. loo. 1579, § 12, 4- 18 -95)
Note —,See editor's note, Art. II.
Sec. 13 -26. Penalties.
Any person convicted for violating any of the terms of this
chapter shall, upon conviction thereof in a Metropolitan Dade
County Court, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding the -sum of .
five hundred dollars ($500.00) or serve a term not to exceed sixty
(60) days, or both such fine and sentence, in the discretion of the
metro judge. Each days violation of any of the terms of this
chapter shall be deemed and considered, and hereby specially
declared to be, a separate and distinct violation of the terms of
this chapter, and punishable as such.
(Ord. No. 1579, § 12, 4- 18 -95)
Note See editor's note, Art. IT.
Sec. 13 -27. Appeals.
(a) An appeal to the city commission may be filed with the city
clerk upon a form prescribed by the city clerk. An appeal must be
filed within thirty (30) days of the action taken which is the
subject of the appeal. An appeal may be filed by any aggrieved
person(s).
(b) An. appeal stays all proceedings in furtherance of the action
appealed from; unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken
or the city manager certifies to the city commission; after notice of
appeal has been filed with him, that because of the facts stated in
the certificate a stay would, in the officer's or the city manager's
opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. or that because
the violation charged is transitory in nature a stay would seri-
ously interfere with enforcement of this chapter.
(c) If certification occurs in accordance with subsection (b)
above, proceedings may not be stayed, except by a restraining
order, which may be granted by the city commission or by a court
of record on application, on notice to the officer from whom the
appeal is taken, or the city manager and on due cause shown.
Supp. No. 60 172.4