CC SR 20230117 M - Banner Policy Amendment
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 01/17/2023
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to amend City Council Policy No. 56 clarifying the type
of advertisement allowed through the City’s Temporary Banner Program in the Public
Right of Way.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Amend City Council Policy No. 56 of the City’s Temporary Banner Program in the
public right-of-way to clarify the kind of community events that the program
banners may advertise.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Steven Giang, Associate Planner
REVIEWED BY: Octavio Silva, Interim Director of Community Development n
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Draft Redlined Amendments to City Council Policy No. 56 (page A-1)
B. Updated City Council Policy No. 56 (2023) (page B-1)
BACKGROUND:
On November 16, 2021, the City Council adopted code amendments to the City’s sign
regulations, repealing Section 17.76.050 (Sign Permit) and adding Chapter 17.75 (Sign
Code) to Article VII (Development Application and Review) of Title 17 (Zoning) of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC). The new sign code primarily focuses on
regulations of signs on private property, including commercial and residential uses. The
provisions relating to the Temporary Banner Program were originally located in Section
17.76.050, and based on the nature of the program, it made more sense logistically and
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RANCHO PALOS VERDES
legally to have the provisions of the program moved to a City Council Policy rather than
in the Sign Code.
To this end, on December 7, 2021, the City Council adopted City Council Policy No. 56
to establish a Temporary Banner Program to allow temporary banners to be placed at
specific locations in the public right-of-way. The purpose of the Temporary Banner
Program is to allow locally based organizations limited-time advertising of community and
informational events. The Community Development Department currently maintains a
reservation system and issues the Temporary Banner Permit for two spaces at each of
the following three locations in the City:
• Hawthorne Boulevard and Indian Peak Road
• Crenshaw Boulevard and Indian Peak Road
• Palos Verdes Drive East and Miraleste Drive
DISCUSSION:
In the implementation and administration of the Temporary Banner Program , it became
evident that additional clarifications to City Council Policy No. 56 were required to better
define the use of the banners and the City’s responsibilities related to the care and
maintenance of the banners, as well as to the issuance of a Temporary Banner Permit.
More specifically, Staff is proposing amendments and clarifications to City Council Policy
No. 56 to limit the use of banners for non-political purposes and to clean up other
provisions of policy based on the experience gained by Staff in the managing of this
program.
The recommended amendments to the City’s Temporary Banner Program are
summarized below. The proposed changes are included in a tracked changes draft of the
proposed amended policy (Attachment A) and a clean copy of the same (Attachment B),
and are intended to clarify the following:
• The locations and time limits on the advertising of local community-based and
informational events.
• Banners may not advertise events advocating for or against any specific
candidates for public office/elections, content for or against a political party,
individual, or ideology.
• Banners must relate to a specific event.
• The City is not responsible for the damages or destruction to any banner or for the
erroneous issuance of a Temporary Banner Permit. In the event the permit is
revoked, the City Manager may issue the applicant/permittee a reimbursement for
the cost of the banner.
• Banners placed in violation of the policy may be removed with 24 hours’ notice.
With the proposed amendments, Staff believes the updated Temporary Banner Program
reflects the intent of the Council, and should provide more complete guidance to Staff and
applicants going forward. The program will continue to be a benefit to local nonprofit
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organizations and the community in promoting noteworthy events with a streamlined
review and approval process.
CONCLUSION:
Therefore, Staff recommends amending City Council Policy No. 56 of the City’s
Temporary Banner Program in the public right-of-way.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Approve the proposed City Council Policy amendments with further changes to
Staff's recommended language and read the amended policy language into the
record of tonight's meeting.
2. Direct Staff to make further changes to the recommended language of the City
Council Policy and continue this matter to a future City Council meeting for review
and approval.
3. Do not approve the proposed City Council Policy amendment and make no
changes to the policy.
4. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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DRAFT
01203.0005/845745.1 1
CITY COUNCIL
POLICY
NUMBER: 56
DATE ADOPTED: December 7, 2021; updated January 17, 2023
SUBJECT: Temporary Banner Program in the Public Right of Way
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City Council to establish a Temporary Banner Program to
allow temporary banners to be placed at specific locations in the public right -of-way,
advertising special noncommercial events to be placed in the public rights-of-way,. The
purpose of the Temporary Banner Program is to allow limited-time advertising of local
community-based and informational events, but not to serve as a means of commercial
advertising for goods or services, or as a means to advocate for or against a candidate
for public office or initiatives. The following requirements shall apply:
1) Banners shall advertise any the following types of events:
a) Non-profit, or community based, or artistic/cultural events to which the public is
invited, organized by entities such as, but not limited to, a non-profit, a school
or school district or other public agency, a church, a sports league including
youth sports, a local chamber of commerce, or similar entity.
b) Events must take place within the City or within one of its adjacent communities,
or benefit residents of the City.
2) Banners may not advertise the following:
a) Events advocating for or against specific candidates for office, and for or against
particular initiatives of measures, to be voted on in an upcoming election. This
limitation shall not apply to events of a purely informational nature, including
candidate forums that host all candidates for a particular office.
b) Content for or against a political party, individual in public office, or ideology.
c) Content that is not related to a specific event, as described above.
d) The sale or solicitation of goods or services, provided that Banners may advertise
a local swap meet or temporary market, such as a farmers’ market or community
craft fair, open to the public.
3) Events shall must commence within 30 days of the posting of the banner.
4) Events must occur on a specific date or date range.
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01203.0005/845745.1 2
5) Banners shall not advertise the sale of goods or services for profit.
5) The advertiser shall submit a Temporary Banner Permit Applicati on to the director
on the form provided by the City. The No application fee will be waivedis required.
The application shall be filed with the director no sooner than 90 days prior to the first
date when the banner will be posted. Applications shall be processed and approved
on a first come, first served basis. The director shall approve the application for a
particular location if it complies with the requirements set forth in this policy.
6) Banners shall only be placed at the following locations where support structures
have been erected by the City:
a) The intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and Indian Peak Road;
b) The intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Indian Peak Road; and
c) The intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East and Miraleste Drive.
7) Banners shall be securely attached to the structures that have been erected by the
City for this purpose in the manner prescribed by the director so as not to pose a
traffic hazard and/or impede pedestrian or vehicular access or visibility within the
City's street rights-of-way.
8) Each advertiser shall be limited to the placement of one banner at any one time per
event.
9) Each advertiser (including their affiliates) shall be limited to the placement of two
banners per calendar year, commencing on January 1 of each year.
10) Each banner shall be displayed for a maximum period of 30 days.
11) A banner shall be removed within 24 hours of the conclusion of the event that the
banner is advertising or at the end of the banner display period, whichever occurs
first.
12) Each banner shall be 4 feet in height by 8 feet in width and shall be made only of
vinyl with a #2 grommet in each corner, which will allow for the banner to be securely
affixed to the structure.
13) Each banner must have a light background with dark letters so as to be clearly
legible.
14) Only one logo and one graphic shall be allowed on each banner, with no color
restriction.
15) Banners must be clean and in good repair at all times.
16) City is not responsible for any damage to or destruction of any Banner. In the event
a Temporary Banner Program permit is issued erroneously, the City may at its sole
discretion revoke the permit. In the event the permit is revoked, the City Manager,
in their discretion, may issue the applicant/permittee a reimbursement for the cost
of the Banner.
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01203.0005/845745.1 3
17) The City at its sole discretion use the Temporary Banner Program to advertise
events held, sponsored, or co-sponsored by the City.
18) A Temporary Banner Program permit may be suspended or revoked for violations
of this policy. Banners erected in violation of this policy, or erected without a
permit, may be removed by City following 24 hours’ notice.
BACKGROUND:
On November 16, 2021, the City Council adopted code amendments to the City’s sign
regulations consisting of repealing Section 17.76.050 (Sign Permit) and adding of
Chapter 17.75 (Sign Code) to Article VII (Development Application and Review) of Title
17 (Zoning) of the RPVMC. As the new Sign Code primarily focuses on regulations for
private property, provisions for temporary banner signs advertising non -commercial
events in the public rights-of-way previously in Section 17.76.050 were not included in
the sign code update. The Temporary Banner Program is a pr ogram run by the City;
therefore, this policy was established.
The policy was amended in 2023 to clarify the City Council’s intent that the Temporary
Banner Permit should not be used as free advertising for or against candidates for
public office, initiatives, political parties, or any particular ideology.
A-3
01203.0005/844472.5 1
CITY COUNCIL
POLICY
NUMBER: 56
DATE ADOPTED: December 7, 2021; updated January 17, 2023
SUBJECT: Temporary Banner Program in the Public Right of Way
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City Council to establish a Temporary Banner Program to
allow temporary banners to be placed at specific locations in the public right -of-way,
advertising special noncommercial events. The purpose of the Temporary Banner
Program is to allow limited-time advertising of local community-based and informational
events, but not to serve as a means of commercial advertising for goods or services, or
as a means to advocate for or against a candidate for public office or initiatives. The
following requirements shall apply:
1) Banners shall advertise any the following types of events:
a) Non-profit, or community based, or artistic/cultural events to which the public is
invited, organized by entities such as, but not limited to, a non-profit, a school
or school district or other public agency, a church, a sports league including
youth sports, a local chamber of commerce, or similar entity.
b) Events must take place within the City or within one of its adjacent communities,
or benefit residents of the City.
2) Banners may not advertise the following:
a) Events advocating for or against specific candidates for office, and for or against
particular initiatives of measures, to be voted on in an upcoming election. This
limitation shall not apply to events of a purely informational nature, including
candidate forums that host all candidates for a particular office.
b) Content for or against a political party, individual in public office, or ideology.
c) Content that is not related to a specific event, as described above.
d) The sale or solicitation of goods or services, provided that Banners may advertise
a local swap meet or temporary market, such as a farmers’ market or community
craft fair, open to the public.
3) Events must commence within 30 days of the posting of the banner.
4) Events must occur on a specific date or date range.
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01203.0005/844472.5 2
5) The advertiser shall submit a Temporary Banner Permit Application to the director
on the form provided by the City. No application fee is required. The application shall
be filed with the director no sooner than 90 days prior to the first date when the
banner will be posted. Applications shall be processed and approved on a first
come, first served basis. The director shall approve the appli cation for a particular
location if it complies with the requirements set forth in this policy.
6) Banners shall only be placed at the following locations where support structures
have been erected by the City:
a) The intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and Indian Peak Road;
b) The intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Indian Peak Road; and
c) The intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East and Miraleste Drive.
7) Banners shall be securely attached to the structures that have been erected by the
City for this purpose in the manner prescribed by the director so as not to pose a
traffic hazard and/or impede pedestrian or vehicular access or visibility within the
City's street rights-of-way.
8) Each advertiser shall be limited to the placement of one banner at any one time per
event.
9) Each advertiser (including their affiliates) shall be limited to the placement of two
banners per calendar year, commencing on January 1 of each year.
10) Each banner shall be displayed for a maximum period of 30 days.
11) A banner shall be removed within 24 hours of the conclusion of the event that the
banner is advertising or at the end of the banner display period, whichever occurs
first.
12) Each banner shall be 4 feet in height by 8 feet in width and shall be made only of
vinyl with a #2 grommet in each corner, which will allow for the banner to be securely
affixed to the structure.
13) Each banner must have a light background with dark letters so as to be clearly
legible.
14) Only one logo and one graphic shall be allowed on each banner, with no color
restriction.
15) Banners must be clean and in good repair at all times.
16) City is not responsible for any damage to or destruction of any Banner. In the
event a Temporary Banner Program permit is issued erroneously, the City may at
its sole discretion revoke the permit. In the event the permit is revoked, the City
Manager, in their discretion, may issue the applicant/permittee a reimbursement
for the cost of the Banner.
17) The City at its sole discretion use the Temporary Banner Program to advertise
events held, sponsored, or co-sponsored by the City.
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01203.0005/844472.5 3
18) A Temporary Banner Program permit may be suspended or revoked for violations
of this policy. Banners erected in violation of this policy, or erected without a
permit, may be removed by City following 24 hours’ notice.
BACKGROUND:
On November 16, 2021, the City Council adopted code amendments to the City’s sign
regulations consisting of repealing Section 17.76.050 (Sign Permit) and adding of
Chapter 17.75 (Sign Code) to Article VII (Development Application and Review) of Title
17 (Zoning) of the RPVMC. As the new Sign Code primarily focuses on regulations for
private property, provisions for temporary banner signs advertising non -commercial
events in the public rights-of-way previously in Section 17.76.050 were not included in
the sign code update. The Temporary Banner Program is a program run by the City;
therefore, this policy was established.
The policy was amended in 2023 to clarify the City Council’s intent that the Temporary
Banner Permit should not be used as free advertising for or against candidates for
public office, initiatives, political parties, or any particular ideology.
B-3