SUBJECT: Public Hearing - Sign/Zoning Ordinance Amendment #23-04, Initiated by the City of Merced; This Application Involves Repealing Chapter 17.36 - Signs from the Merced Municipal Code and Replacing Chapter 20.62 - Signs in its Entirety with a Comprehensive Update to the Existing Sign Regulations REPORT IN BRIEF This application involves repealing Chapter 17.36 - Signs from the Merced Municipal Code and replacing Chapter 20.62 - Signs in its entirety with a comprehensive update to the ordinance that would place all sign regulations in one chapter, bring the Sign Ordinance into compliance with recent court rulings, and make the sign requirements consistent throughout the City. The new ordinance would include new definitions, new regulations for sign area, temporary signs, digital/LED signs, signs in the public right-of-way, billboards, regional signs, freeway signs, and various other sign regulations. The proposed sign ordinance would categorize signs into four main types: permanent building signs, permanent freestanding signs, temporary building signs, and temporary freestanding signs. Each type of sign would be regulated by quantity, size, shape, type of illumination and location. Additionally, minor amendments to Chapter 20.90.020 - “Definitions” would be made to bring this section into compliance with the definitions provided in Chapter 20.62. RECOMMENDATION City Council - Adopt a motion: A. Adopting a Categorical Exemption for Environmental Review #23-27; and, B. Introducing Ordinance 2549, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, Amending Chapter 20.62 - “Signs,” Chapter 20.90.020 “Definitions,” and Repealing Chapter 17.36 - “Sign” of the Merced Municipal Code to Establish New Sign Regulations Within the City of Merced.

Public Hearing Item Passed Introduced September 1, 2023

Committee: City Council/Public Finance and Economic Development Authority/Parking Authority
Introduced: September 1, 2023
On agenda: October 2, 2023
Passed: October 2, 2023