HomeMy WebLinkAboutOutdoor Display of Goods & MerchandiseTO:
MEMORANDUM
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bob Spiegel, Council Member
City Council, City of Palm Desert
FROM: 14Lauri Aylaian, Director
Community Development
DATE: October 21, 2008
SUBJECT: Outdoor Display of Goods and Merchandise
This memorandum serves as a follow-up to our meeting on Thursday, 16 October 2008, with
Council Member Finerty, Ruth Ann Moore, Hart Ponder, Barbara DeBoom, and
representatives of California Patio, Palm Springs Cyclery, and Country Club Golf Carts on
Country Club Drive.
The City Council could provide some temporary relief to local merchants who are struggling
during this downturn in the economy by directing staff to, for six months, permit limited
outdoor display of goods and merchandise in all commercial zones through issuance of a six-
month Temporary Use Permit (TUP).
The City Council should request that issuance of the permit be conditioned upon:
• Provision of professional quality display and signage, with signage limited to no more
than a total of five square feet in area, including any pedestal signs;
• Maintenance of adequate parking spaces, sidewalk area and walkways at all times;
• Maintenance of clear lines of sight to adjacent businesses, signage, and view
corridors;
• The prohibition of clothes racks, folding chairs and tables, pallets, A -frame signs, and
merchandise displayed on the ground or without attractive shelving, display fixtures,
or stands;
• Any other conditions deemed appropriate by the Director of Community Development
in order to preserve the visual and aesthetic character of an appealing, up market
shopping experience.
I also suggest that renewal of any TUP be conditioned upon submission of evidence of the
effectiveness and relative success of the outdoor display, and that no permit or renewal
extend beyond April 30, 2009, at which time the City Council would reevaluate the policy.
In order for this to take effect in short order, you will need to ask to add it to the agenda at
this Thursday's meeting. I will have sample photographs of outdoor displays available for the
meeting on Thursday, in the event that you think they would be helpful.
Please let me know if I can provide you with any additional information.
cc: Carlos L. Ortega, City Manager
Cindy Finerty, Council Member
REGULAR PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
XVIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. CITY MANAGER
OCTOBER 23, 2008
2. Consideration of Outdoor Display of Goods and Merchandise
:ITY COUNCIL TION:
APPROVED __ ,... DENIED_
OTHER_ ,,.,_
MEETl_ DATE
AYES:
N OE S :
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VERIFIED BY:
lriginal on
•
File wi e City Clerk's Offi_r.
* Mayor Pro Tem Spiegel moved to, by Minue Motion, approve a six-month program
for issuance of Temporary Use Permits (TUP) for businesses, alloowing the outdoor
display of goods and merchandise, subject to the stated conditions, until April
30, 2009, after which time the emergency program be reevaluated by City Council.
Motion was seconded by Kelly.