HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 - EDC Recommendations Regarding Signage�aF'W�RT CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Hearing Date: February 8, 2000
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC
Agenda Item
ii DEVELOPMENT 13
No.:
" PLANNING DEPARTMENT Staff Person: Sharon Z. Wood
3300 NEWPORT BOULEVARD (949) 644 -3222
NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92655
(714) 644 -3200; FAX (714) 644 -3250
REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Economic Development Committee Recommendations Regarding
Signage
SUGGESTED
ACTION: Direct staff to include the following two projects in the 2000 -01
Capital Budget:
1) Comprehensive review of commercial sign code
2) Development of simple, coordinated public and visitor signage
throughout the City of Newport Beach
The Image Enhancement Subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) has
discussed how signage, aesthetics, infrastructure and transportation affect the image of Newport
Beach. They have decided to focus on signage as their priority, and submitted the attached
report, which was approved by the full EDC on January 19, 2000.
Staff agrees with the EDC that signage is a very important contributor to the image of Newport
Beach. As part of the Balboa Peninsula revitalization effort, new regulations for private signs
have been drafted, and the public review process for them will begin this month. Sign regulation
also is an issue that is receiving attention from community members working on plans for the
enhancement of Mariner's Mile. With these two efforts as a foundation, and remembering that
many newer areas of the City are in Planned Community districts with stronger guidelines than
found in the Zoning Code, staff believes a comprehensive review of commercial regulations
would be a manageable project.
When the City Council decided against the public signage program proposed for the Peninsula
last year, the Council directed staff to evaluate the need for guide signage Citywide. While staff
was able to begin an analysis of existing public signs on the Peninsula with student intern
assistance, we have not been able to complete this project with in -house resources. We continue
to believe that a Citywide program would improve the image of Newport Beach, as well as direct
visitors correctly and efficiently, so they will be less likely to get lost in residential
neighborhoods. We also have seen effective sign programs in other coastal cities, such as
Manhattan Beach, Long Beach and Santa Monica. If the Council agrees that a coordinated
program should be developed for use throughout the City, outside assistance with expertise in
this area will be needed.
SHARON Z. WOOD
Assistant City Manager
Date: December 7, 1999
To: Ed Selich, Economic Development Committee Chair
From: Rosalind Williams, Image Enhancement Sub - Committee Chair
Re: Sub - Committee Mission and Objectives
At the August 24, 1999 EDC Image Enhancement Sub - Committee meeting the members
developed the following mission statement and identified the signage issue as their main
focus.
The Image Enhancement Sub - Committee is positioned to analyze,
define, and make recommendations regarding the public image and
perception of the community of Newport Beach for the satisfaction
of residents, businesses and visitors.
The members discussed several issues in addition the signage, including aesthetics,
infrastructure, and transportation. However, the members felt it was important, at this time,
to focus on the signage issue as a priority and to forward the following speck
recommendation to the City Council.
Specifically the members identified three objectives related to signage:
® Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing commercial sign code, including
compliance and enforcement.
m Identify ways to improve, coordinate, and simplify public and visitor signage throughout
the City.
o Identify funds in the 2000 -2001 city budget to cover the cost of accomplishing this
recommendation.
cc: Image Enhancement Committee