Chico >> Digital signs, a marijuana ordinance and waste water treatment are all topics coming to the City Council on Tuesday.
DIGITAL SIGNS
Digital signs could be allowed in Chico, if the council gives its approval.
This would allow for digital reader board signs in non-residential properties in commercial services districts.
With the city code update, sign images and messages would be allowed to change, but they could not do so more than 12 times per 24-hour period. There are also brightness limitations, and the signs must have the technology to dim the display during nighttime to prevent glare.
The Planning Commission recommended in July that the council adopt these changes allowing for the signs.
Digital signs first became a public topic when business owner Mark Page repaired his sign at Fix Auto on East Park Avenue in Chico.
The new sign allowed him to display messages like “Happy Mother’s Day,” or “Don’t text and drive,” along with time and temperature, but the city told him if he used it that way, it would be out of compliance with city code.
MARIJUANA LAWS
The City Council is leaning in the direction of explicitly prohibiting commercial cannabis activity and sales citywide. It forwarded a draft ordinance to the Planning Commission in May that bans commercial growing and sales, sets up a permitting and regulatory process for indoor grows and regulates locations where smoking marijuana is illegal.
Since then, Gov. Jerry Brown has sign Senate Bill 94, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, which creates one regulatory structure for cannabis activities. The city attorney and the community development director reviewed the draft ordinance and want the council to decide on some technical things, like whether they should create a stand-alone ordinance related to personal cultivation, make changes to the current draft to include references to SB 94 or put all marijuana-related laws into one city ordinance.
No matter what ordinance may eventually be adopted by the city, it cannot prohibit the use of marijuana by those 21 and older, prohibit cultivation of up to six marijuana plants per residence or tax marijuana cultivated for personal use.
The city’s regulations have to be adopted by Jan. 1, 2018, or the state regulations apply.
• Paradise representatives will update Chico on the town’s waste water treatment plans at Tuesday’s council meeting, and ask for a letter of support from the city. Because connecting to Chico’s Wastewater Pollution Control Plant is its primary option, the town wants to confirm that Chico is still open to the idea.
• There will be an update on the structure and function of the Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board. City staff has seen promising improvements in the board process, and believes there is no need for major changes to the board’s role and function at this point, according to a staff report.
The community development director recommends delaying the update for another year so staff can continue working to improve the site design and architectural review process.
• Technology for the City Council Chambers needs to be updated, according to city staff. This includes the addition of audio, video and control components to the chambers and two conference rooms used by the council, staff and city boards and commissions.
The current system was installed about 23 years ago and many parts cannot be repaired because replacement parts are scarce or nonexistent. The cost is estimated at $343,287.67.
The meeting will be 6 p.m., Tuesday in City Council Chambers, 421 Main St.
credit:chicoer.com
