HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2003-2924-BORDINANCE NO. 2924-B
URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA
EXTENDRqG URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 2924-A, WHICH
AMENDED CHAPTER 19.60 AND VARIOUS OTHER
SECTIONS OF THE CHULA VISTA MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF SIGNS ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA
WHEREAS, on July 8, 2003, pursuant to Government Code Section 65858, the City
Council by a four-fifths vote made the necessary findings and adopted Urgency Ordinance No.
2924-A ("Urgency Ordinance") repealing Chapter 19.60 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code
relating to the regulation of signs and repealed and amended various sections in other chapters,
including Chapters 19.04, 19.58, and 19.20 through 19.52, which also regulated signs; and added
a new Chapter 19.60 consolidating the regulation of signs on private property; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 65858, the urgency ordinance shall
be of no further force and effect 45 days after its adoption; and
WHEREAS, said urgency ordinance may only be extended after the issuance of a written
report 10 days prior to the extension of the urgency ordinance describing the measures taken to
alleviate the condition which led to the adoption of the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, in compliance with above reporting requirement and to alleviate the
condition that led to the adoption of the ordinance the City Council directed staff at the July 8th
meeting tn take all necessary steps, including noticing and holding all required hearings and
meetings, to process a regular amendment to the zoning code regarding sign regulations; and
WHEREAS, the availability of said report was noticed mom then 10 days prior to the
contemplated action by the City Council in a newspaper of general circulation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to extend Urgency Ordinance No. 2924-A; and
WHEREAS, the extension of the Urgency Ordinance was duly noticed pursuant to
Government Code Section 65858 and a public hearing was held on August 19, 2003 for the
purpose of considering the extension of said Urgency Ordinance and to take any public
testimony related thereto; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires that the roles and regulations contained in the
Urgency Ordinance continue to be of full force and effect until the regularly adopted ordinance
goes into effect 30 days from its adoption; and
WHEREAS, the public continues to use signs, erect signs, maintain signs, and file
development applications proposing new signage; and
WHEREAS, processing applications or enforcing laws related to signs under the
regulations in effect prior to July 8, 2003, would thwart the City's effort to address sign-related
processing concerns and to ensure consistency with federal and state law; and
Ordinance 2924-B
Page 2
WHEREAS, the Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed this ordinance and the
Urgency Ordinance for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and
has determined that they are not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA
Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity
is not subject to CEQA and no environmental review is necessary.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby ordain as
follows:
SECTION I. FINDINGS OF URGENCY
That based upon the below listed findings there is a current and immediate threat to the
public health, safety or welfare and that the approval of additional use permits, variances,
building permits or any other applicable entitlement for use which is required in order to comply
with the zoning ordinance would result in that threat to public health, safety, and welfare.
A. A sign ordinance is one of the most important laws adopted by a municipality.
The regulations contained in such laws do much to promote the public health, safety and
welfare. For instance, they promote aesthetics and significantly increase property values
by reducing visual clutter and signage which may be disharmonious with other nearby
signage or structures. Sign codes economically benefit a city by ensuring each business
has adequate room and sight lines to advertise without being crowded out by an
inconsiderate or unscmpuious neighbor. Finally, they increase traffic flow by eliminating
cluttered, distracting, confusing, or illegible signage and prevent injury by eliminating
improperly placed or constructed, or poorly maintained signs; and
B. Because of the importance of the City's sign ordinance (and each of its
provisions), it is imperative that the City protect the public health, safety, and general
welfare by ensuring that an easily applied and completely valid sign ordinance is in force
within the City; and
C. Additional time is needed to ensure the amendments to the sign ordinance adopted
by the Urgency Ordinance on July 8, 2003 remain in full force and effect until an
ordinance can he adopted pursuant to the procedures identified within the applicable
regulation or law; and
D. Based on the facts set forth above, the City Council declares this ordinance to be
necessary as an emergency measure for preserving the public peace, health, safety, and
general welfare.
SECTION II. SIGN REGULATIONS
The provisions of Urgency Ordinance 2924-A adopted by the City Council on July 8,
2003 are incorporated herein and shall govern the regulation of signs on private property within
the City of Chula Vista.
SECTION III. EXPIRATION DATE
This ordinance shall have no further force and effect on the date which is ten (10) months
and fifteen (15) days from the expiration of Urgency Ordinance 2924-A, or upon the effective
date of an ordinance enacted pursuant to the provisions of the Chula Vista Municipal Code for
Ordinance 2924-B
Page 3
adopting a non-interim zoning ordinance amending the City's zoning regulations relating to
signs, whichever first occurs.
SECTION 1V. EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon four-fifths vote.
Submitted by
Approved as to form by
~a~ning and Building Director
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista,
California, this 19th day of August, 2003, by the following vote:
Ann Moore
City Attorney
AYES:
Councilmembers:
Davis, McCann, Rindone and Padilla
NAYS: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Salas
~dilla, Mayor
ATTEST:
Susan Bigelow, City Clerk'°
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
CITY OF CHULA VISTA )
I, Susan Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing
Ordinance No. 2924-B was passed as an urgency measure on the 19th day of August, 2003.
Executed this 19th day of August, 2003.
Susan Bigelow, City Clerk