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CITY OF SAN BERN. .RDINO - REQUEST F R COUNCIL ACTION
,)m: Peggy Ducey, Assistant to the City Subject: Abandoned Sign Abatement Program
Administrator
Dept: Administration
Date: June 29, 1993
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
Recommended motion:
Approve an allocation of $50,000 for an abandoned sign abatement program.
SignQalt r
Contact person: Peggy Ducey Phone: 5122
Supporting data attached: yes Ward:
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount:
Source: (Acct. No.)
Acct. Description)
Finance:
Council Notes:
CITY OF SAN BERN tDINO - REQUEST F a COUNCIL ACTION
STAFF REPORT
A main priority of the City of San Bernardino has been to improve
its visual attractiveness and overall image. One way to address
this goal is to more aggressively abate abandoned signs on vacant
and closed businesses. The City's Development Code defines an
abandoned sign as any structure, device, or display that remains in
place or is not maintained for 90 days or longer that advertises
for a closed Development service or many abandoned signs no poorly
longer meet p
maintained, and sometimes hazardous.
A survey conducted by the City Administrator's office for abandoned
signs documented over 500 signs throughout the City needing
abatement. Many of these are within redevelopment project areas.
However, because of budgetary contraints over the past few years,
no systematic abatement effort has taken place.
A main obstacle to abandoned sign abatement has been a lack of
funding to pay contractors for abatement work. Procedurally, Code
Enforcement must notify all vested property owners to abate a sign
within a certain time period. If no action is taken by the owner,
the City may contract with a qualified contractor to remove the
sign and bill the City for the work. The City will in turn bill
the property owner, and if not paid, will lien the property for the
cost of the abatement. Once the billing and lien process begins,
payment from property owners will come back to the program and a
funding source will be created for an on-going program.
Abandoned signs abatement can be done with existing staff since the
initial survey of signs, including photographs and address
verification, has been completed. The bulk of the work now will be
in the proper notification of property owners and the City
Administrator's staff will be assisting in this process. The total
funds needed for start-up abatement costs is $50,000. These fund
will only be used for sign abatement in redevelopment areas. The
program will be evaluated in six months to determine the
effectiveness of the abatement process.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve an allocation of $50,000 for an abandoned sign abatement
program.