#2 Allow service club signage on welcome signs (File Res. #2010-684)
City Manager’s Office Memorandum
March 22, 2010
TO: Janesville City Council
FROM: Al Hulick, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Action on a Proposed Resolution Allowing Service Club Signage on City
Welcome Signs (File Resolution 2010-684)
Summary
The Lions Club of Janesville has approached members of the City Council to ask
permission to advertise or recognize local service clubs on the City’s “welcome” sign.
Councilmembers Rashkin and Perrotto have requested that Staff create a policy to
address their request. Many communities around the State allow service clubs to
advertise on the City’s “welcome” sign as a way of recognizing the local service clubs
commitment to the Community. File Resolution 2010-684 establishes a policy to place
local service club plaques on the City of Janesville “welcome” signs.
City Manager Recommendation
After reviewing the issue, the City Manager recommends that prior to City Council
approval the following steps be taken, if the Council desires to move forward with this
request:
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Direct staff to work with other interest groups who currently have involvement in
the welcome signs prior to modifying the signs to allow for placement of the
service club signs.
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Limit the placement of the service club signs to one location.
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Outline the costs that the service clubs would need to pay. These costs would
include the modification of the sign if necessary, the sign cost and the
proportionate share of maintenance cost.
We have attached a resolution if the Council chooses to move forward with approval
tonight.
Suggested Motion
Move to direct staff to address the issues outlined in the City Manager recommendation
and bring back the proposed resolution upon completing those steps.
Or
Move to approve File Resolution 2010-684 allowing service club signs to be placed on
the City’s “welcome” signs.
Request
Councilmember Rashkin and Perrotto on behalf of the Janesville Lions Club request,
have asked that Staff research allowing local service clubs to advertise their
organizations on the City’s “welcome” signs. Several communities around the State
have similar examples on their welcome signs, but staff could not find any example
“policies” regarding the placement of these signs. Therefore, staff has prepared File
Resolution 2010-684 to allow local service clubs to place plaques on the City’s
“welcome” sign.
Analysis
Placing local service club signs, or plaques, on City’s “welcome” signs has been a long
standing tradition in many communities around the State. Recognizing this, the
Janesville Lions Club has approached members of the City Council to ask if the City of
Janesville could adopt a similar practice.
File Resolution 2010-684 defines Service Clubs as: Civic Leagues or organizations not
organized for profit, but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, or local
associations of employees, the membership of which is limited to the employees of a
designated person or persons in a particular municipality, and the net earnings of which
are devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes. This
definition is consistent with the Internal Revenue Code definition for non-profit, Civic
Organizations.
The City’s current sign code (Chapter 14) indicates that signs of a non-commercial use
and in the public interest can be erected by order of a governmental unit. This provision
has been interpreted to allow the City Council to allow local service clubs to place their
plaques on the City’s “welcome” sign.
The City of Janesville has three major “welcome” entrance signs: Milton Avenue, Racine
Street, and Center Avenue. File Resolution 2010-684 would allow qualified service
clubs (as defined above) to place their official plaque on the City’s “welcome” signs in a
manner and location as determined appropriate by the City’s Parks Director. Any costs
associated with the installation of the plaques or modifications to the City’s “welcome”
sign will be the responsibility of the Service Clubs. Additionally, any maintenance
and/or replacement of these plaques will be the responsibility of the respective service
club and will be done at no cost of the City.
Some added information that staff wants to ensure that the Council is aware of is the
fact that the Palmer Park Welcome sign was renovated by the Bower City Garden Club
in 2009 through donations. The Club additionally is proposing to spend $4,000 to have
a new welcome sign at the SW corner of hwy 14 and 26. Additionally, the South Side
sign is on leased land owned by MacFarlane Pheasant Farm and they pay for the
electricity to light the sign.
Pros
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Many communities around the State allow service clubs to advertise on the City’s
“welcome” sign as a way of recognizing the local service clubs commitment to
the Community.
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The installation, modification, and maintenance of these plaques will be at no
cost to the City of Janesville.
Cons
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Placing Service Club signage on the City’s “welcome” signage could potentially
open the door to other groups wanting to be represented.
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“Welcome” signs are typically placed within highly visible vistas and designed to
be aesthetically appealing and congruent with the surrounding landscape. By
adding additional, incongruent, accessory signage could lessen that aesthetical
appeal.
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The installation of the new Palmer Park “welcome” sign was paid for by the
Bower City Garden Club. This group is also working to replace the “welcome”
signs located at on the southside and Milton Avenue. This club has not been
involved in this proposal, and their support of the project has not been elicited.cc:
Cc: Eric Levitt
Jacob Winzenz
RESOLUTION NO. 2010-684
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PLACEMENT OF SERVICE CLUB PLAQUES ON THE
CITY OF JANESVILLE “WELCOME” SIGNS
WHEREAS, Service Clubs have had a long-standing presence and commitment to the City of
Janesville; and
WHEREAS, many communities in the State of Wisconsin have a tradition of displaying Service
Club plaques on their “welcome” signs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Janesville, would like to recognize the immense contribution that local
Service Clubs have made to the quality of life, education, and social welfare of the City of
Janesville; and
WHEREAS, the City of Janesville would like to further recognize these services clubs, by
displaying their official plaques on the City of Janesville “welcome” signs to showcase those
Service Clubs long-standing commitment to the community; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council hereby find that such display would be in the interest of and
benefit to the community.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Service Clubs are defined as: “Civic Leagues or
organizations not organized for profit, but operated exclusively for the promotion of social
welfare, or local associations of employees, the membership of which is limited to the
employees of a designated person or persons in a particular municipality, and the net earnings
of which are devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes.” This
definition is consistent with the Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(4)definition for non-profit, Civic
Organizations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Service Club plaque must be the official plaque of the
respective Service Club, and the design and size of the plaque prior to installation must receive
prior approval by the Service Club Board of Directors and the City of Janesville Parks Director;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that “welcome” signs are hereby defined as: signs on an entry-
way to the City containing information regarding community or civic organizations, not to exceed
either (a) one sign per entry-way per organization not to exceed two square feet in area each or
(b) one sign per entryway for all such organizations not to exceed 12 square feet in area; all
such signs subject to applicable regulations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Service Club plaques will be provided to the City of
Janesville at no cost, that the Service Club will be responsible for any maintenance or
replacement costs associated with the plaques, and that the Service Clubs will be responsible
for the costs of any additional modifications to the City of Janesville “welcome” signs that are
necessary to affix and maintain the plaques.
ADOPTED:
Motion by:
Second by:
APPROVED:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Brunner
McDonald
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
Perrotto
Rashkin
ATTEST:
Steeber
Truman
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
Voskuil
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney, Wald Klimczyk
Proposed by: Janesville City Council
Prepared by: City Manager’s Office