§ 64.405. Signs with dynamic display.

The following provisions shall apply to exterior signs with dynamic display visible from a public right-of-way, and to interior window signs with dynamic display that are within three (3) feet of a window and are oriented toward and visible from a public right-of-way.

(a)

Location and orientation. Business signs with dynamic display shall be at least seventy-five (75) feet, as measured along the road, from a residential district, and shall be at least fifty (50) feet from a residential district, measured radially. Signs with dynamic display intended to be read from a freeway shall be at least six hundred sixty (660) feet as measured along the freeway from any other sign with dynamic display designed to be read by drivers heading in the same direction. Signs with dynamic display shall not interfere with traffic and road safety due to placement and orientation as determined by the city traffic engineer.

(b)

Sign area. For business and identification signs, the area of dynamic displays on an individual sign face shall be no more than two hundred (200) square feet, and dynamic displays shall occupy no more than twenty (20) percent of the total allowable signage of the property. The remaining eighty (80) percent of the total allowable signage of the property shall not have the capability to have dynamic displays even if not used. For multi-tenant buildings, the area of allowable dynamic displays for an individual tenant shall be prorated upon the percentage of gross floor area used by the individual tenant.

(c)

Illumination and brightness. No sign with dynamic display may exceed a maximum illumination of 0.3 foot candles above ambient light level as measured from fifty (50) feet from the sign's face. All signs with dynamic display having illumination by means other than natural light must be equipped with an automatic dimmer control or other mechanism that automatically controls the sign's brightness to comply with this requirement. No sign with dynamic display may be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device, signal or the safety of the public, or located where it would do so as determined by the city traffic engineer. If there is a violation of the brightness standards, the adjustment must be made within one (1) business day upon notice of non-compliance from the city.

(d)

Malfunction. Signs with dynamic display must be designed and equipped to freeze the sign face in one position if a malfunction occurs. Signs with dynamic display must also be equipped with a means to immediately discontinue the display if it malfunctions, and the sign owner or operator must immediately turn off the display when notified by the city that it is not complying with the standards of this ordinance.

(e)

Image characteristics, duration, and transition. The following standards shall apply to image duration, transition, and other characteristics of signs with dynamic display. Additional district-specific restrictions are contained in Sec. 64.502, 64.503 and 64.504.

(1)

Except at professional sport facilities, signs with dynamic display that are oriented towards the public right of way shall not include moving video images.

(2)

Business and identification signs with dynamic display may either have stable text and/or stable images, or they may have scrolling text and/or scrolling images. Signs with dynamic display which contain stable text and/or stable images may not change their text or image more than once every twelve (12) seconds. Signs with dynamic display which contain scrolling text and/or scrolling images may not scroll at a rate faster than one (1) word per second, where words contain an average of five (5) characters each.

(3)

Dynamic displays on business and identification signs within one hundred (100) feet of a residential use, measured from the sign to the nearest residential property line, shall not scroll and shall be turned off between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM or after business hours, whichever is later.

(4)

For stable text and/or stable images, the transition from one static display to another must be direct and immediate without any special effects except for fading and dissolving that takes less than one (1) second;

(5)

Dynamic display text on business and identification signs shall be monochromatic. Dynamic display images may be full color.

(6)

Signs with dynamic display shall not emit sound except for those at drive-through sales and services as allowed under section 65.513.

(7)

Other modes of displaying messages are prohibited. Modes which cause the message to flash are prohibited.

(C.F. No. 09-1015, § 1, 12-9-09; Ord. No. 11-32, § 1, 12-14-11)