Workshop Item: 1 - Robert Therres, Public Services Manager
Title
DISCUSSION ON GABE'S (Fogerty Arena) SIGN IN CIY RIGHT OF WAY
Background
Earlier this year Fogerty Arena requested that they be allowed to place brown directional signs in the City's right of way on Cloverleaf Parkway to assist people in finding Fogerty Arena and Four Season's Curling Club. The City in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) has placed a brown directional signs on Highway #65 and a corresponding brown directional sign on Clover Leaf Parkway that states "Fogerty Arena and Four Seasons Curling Club". Fogerty Arena also wanted the sign to have the "Gabe's" logo displayed. City staff did not allow this as it was determined to be an advertising sign in city right of way, which is not allowed by ordinance.
In August, representatives of Fogerty Arena came to City Council workshop to request that the name Gabe's and their logo be displayed on the brown directional signs. The Council asked staff to research this issue. Initial staff research indicated that the Gabe's logo can not be placed on the brown directional signs as per MNDOT, and that Gabe's was not eligible to have a blue logo way finding sign on Hwy. #65 as Hwy. #65 was not considered a freeway. Fogerty Arena had received different information from MNDOT in regards to the blue logo signs, so last month MNDOT, Fogerty Arena, Gabe's and City staff sat down to find out what signage is possible for Gabe's.
The result of the meeting is that Gabe's is eligible to have a blue logo sign on Hwy. #10(Freeway) but only if they have corresponding blue logo signs on Hwy. #65 and Clover Leaf Parkway. MNDOT has identified and approved a location for the blue logo sign on Hwy. #65.
The request before the City Council is to allow the placement of a blue logo sign with the Gabe's logo in City right of way near the existing brown directional sign on Clover Leaf Parkway. The brown sign would remain.
Is the City Council interested in allowing the placement of the blue logo sign with the Gabe's logo on Clover Leaf Parkway? Currently it is considered an advertising sign and would not be allowed. If there is interest to do so we could amend our right of way ordinance to allow directional signage as required under a MNDOT approved signage program.
Recommendation
Provide feedback and direction to staff in regards to blue logo signage in City right of way.