2002-10-22356
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
OCTOBER 22, 2002
AGENDA
A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
B. CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF
ATTENDANCE:
Chairperson Mack Worley, Jr.
Vice -Chairperson Jamie Gamiotea
Member Linda Ballinger
Member Marsha Montesi
Member Andrea Nelson
Member Rennae Sweda
Member Liz Weisser
Alternate Bea Castorina
Alternate Frank Irby
Attorney John Cook
Code Enforcement Officer Chief Tomey
Code Enforcement Officer Bob Hillery
Secretary Sue Christopher
DISCUSSION
Chairperson Worley called the October 22, 2002 Code Enforcement Board meeting to order at 6:04 p.m
Secretary Christopher called the roll:
Present
Present
Absent with consent (Bea Castorina filled the seat for Member Ballinger)
Present
Present
Absent with consent (Frank Irby filled the seat for Member Sweda)
Present
Present (entered council chambers at 6:15 p.m.)
Present
Present
Present
Absent with consent
Present
357
AGENDA
C. NEW BUSINESS - Discuss Code Enforcement Procedures
1. Signs / Banners / Murals
October 22, 2002 - Code Enforcement Workshop - Page 2 of 3
DISCUSSION
Attorney Cook stated the City was not having a lot of trouble with signs, except for the ones that are
temporary such as banners and sale advertisements. He felt the County sign ordinance was pretty good
and that we should try to be as consistent with the County sign ordinance as possible. Attorney Cook.
asked the Board if they felt every sign should require a permit, not a fee but a permit. There was some
discussion by the Board. Member Gamiotea suggested it might be best to first define what is considered
a sign and what is not. Member Worley suggested taking either the City or the County sign ordinance
and going through it section by section and deciding if it needed to be revised. Member Montesi felt the
City sign ordinance was very thorough. It was the consensus of the Board to start with the City sign
ordinance and go through each section.
The Boards discussion centered around the issue of banners. Attorney Cook advised the Board to
determine what exactly is to be considered a banner and how they should be regulated. There was some
discussion among the Board as to whether all banners should be prohibited. Member Gamiotea
suggested allowing temporary banners if it was for a community event sponsored by a non-profit
organization. He felt if a permit was required without a fee and it was only allowed to be put up for a
certain number of days that the City would be able to regulate these types of banners. Chairperson
Worley brought up the question of whether to allow logos on the temporary banners. He recommended
allowing the logo to cover not more than twenty-five percent of the banner. Member Nelson brought up
the question of the use of banners for grand openings or special sales. Member Gamiotea referred to the
City sign ordinance which does allow for banners used for this purpose as long as they get a permit.
Member Nelson voiced a concern that if we prohibited all banners that there would be a lot of conflict
with business owners who had been allowed to have banners for many years. Member Montesi stated
that we should start by enforcing the Codes that we already have, Chairperson Worley agreed.
Member Weisser asked how temporary signs advertising yard sales were regulated by the sign ordiance.
Member Montesi made the comment that according to our sign ordinance signs attached to poles or trees
are not allowed. Member Irby agreed that what you attach the sign to would keep them from being
allowed.
There was further discussion among the Board members regarding temporary banners for grand openings
or special events. Member Gamiotea pointed out that our existing sign ordinance has an exception for
banners advertising special events held not more than once every six months as long as the get a permit.
C
1
October 22, 2002 - Code Enforcement Workshop - Page 3 of 3
358
AGENDA
ADJOURNMENT - CHAIRPERSON WORLEY
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED that if a person decides to appeal any decision
made by the Code Enforcement Board with respect to any matter considered at this meeting,
he/she may need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record
cludes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Tapes are for the
le purpose of backup for official records of the department.
Mack Worley, Jr., C erson
ATTEST:
Sue Christopher,
�7
DISCUSSION
Chairperson Worley summarized the direction he preceived the Board had agreed upon at this point by
stating non-profit and institutional organizations could have temporary banners for special events as long
as they were up for a limited amount of time and did not have a sponsors logo covering more than
twenty-five percent of the banner. The other recommendation of the Board was to include commercial
and industrial districts in sign ordinance 573 which now prohibits off -premise, portable and wind signs
only in professional and office districts. Chairperson asked Board members if this was the consensus of
the Board and all member agreed it was.
Workshop was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.