ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SUBSECTIONS 17.04.100 OF CHAPTER
17.04 OF THE CAMARILLO MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO SIGN
REGULATIONS
WHEREAS, the City of Camarillo (“City”) is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the constitution and laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the City’s sign regulations in Chapter 17.04, of Title 17 (collectively “Sign Ordinance”) are intended to regulate signs located on property in the City over which the City has regulatory authority; and
WHEREAS, the Sign Ordinance maintains and enhances the City’s appearance by regulating the design, character, location, number, quality of materials, size, illumination, and maintenance of signs; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to enhance the City’s current sign regulations with respect to public facilities signs in residential zones; and
WHEREAS, on August 28, 2024, the City Council considered this Ordinance. Its findings are made based on the entire administrative record including testimony and evidence presented to the City Council at its August 28, 2024, public hearing, including, without limitation, the staff report submitted by the Director of Community Development.
The Council of the City of Camarillo, California does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings.
The City Council hereby finds that all of the foregoing recitals and the staff report presented herewith are true and correct and are hereby incorporated and adopted as findings of the City Council as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. Environmental Findings.
The proposed ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, section15061(b)(3) because the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Because there is no possibility that this proposed ordinance may have a significant adverse effect on the environment, the introduction or adoption of this ordinance is exempt from CEQA.
SECTION 3. Notice of Exemption.
The Director, or designee, is directed to file a Notice of Exemption in accordance with CEQA §§ 15062 and any other applicable law.
SECTION 4. Amending Chapter 17.04.
The CMC is amended as follows:
17.04.100 - Signs permitted in residential zones.
In addition to any other applicable signage allowed under this chapter, the following signage is permitted in residential zones:
A. Multifamily Housing. Apartment, condominium and townhouse projects are permitted one identification sign, which may be a monument sign or a wall sign, not exceeding twenty square feet in area per face, eight feet in height, if a monument sign, and may be shadow lighted.
B. Mobilehome Parks. Each mobilehome park is permitted one lighted or unlighted identification sign. The sign area may not exceed thirty square feet, if single-faced or twenty square feet, if double-faced, and the sign height may not exceed six feet.
C. Public Facilities. In all residential zones, churches, schools, hospitals, public facilities, conditional and special uses are permitted:
1. One lighted or unlighted Double-faced Monument or Freestanding sign, not to exceed 40 square feet in area, with the location to be determined by the Director. A Monument sign may not exceed eight feet in height, and a Freestanding sign may not exceed twelve feet in height. Changeable copy is permitted and can include an electronic display equipped with an ambient light control sensor. The display cannot move or flash and the content must be static for a minimum of four hours. The maximum size of the display is 32 square feet per side and counts toward the maximum sign area.
2. One Wall sign on each street or parking lot frontage is permitted on public buildings. A Wall sign may not exceed two square feet in area for each lineal foot of building frontage along the street or parking lot.
3. One temporary banner sign, not to exceed thirty-six square feet in area. A banner sign may be erected up to four times a year for a period not to exceed thirty days. The banner sign must be removed within five days of the conclusion of any event or activity which it advertises.
SECTION 5. General Plan Findings.
Pursuant to Government Code § 65860, the City Council hereby determines that this Ordinance is compatible with, consistent with and integrated with all other elements of the City’s General Plan and makes the following findings:
SECTION 6. Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 7. Construction.
This Ordinance must be broadly construed to achieve the purposes stated in this Ordinance. It is the City Council’s intent that the provisions of this Ordinance be interpreted or implemented by the City and others in a manner that facilitates the purposes set forth in this Ordinance.
SECTION 8. Enforceability.
Repeal of any provision of the CMC does not affect any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred before, or preclude prosecution and imposition of penalties for any violation occurring before this Ordinance’s effective date. Any such repealed part will remain in full force and effect for sustaining action or prosecuting violations occurring before the effective date of this Ordinance.
SECTION 9. Validity of Previous Code Sections.
If this entire Ordinance or its application is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, any repeal or amendment of the CMC or other city ordinance by this Ordinance will be rendered void and cause such previous CMC provision or other the city ordinance to remain in full force and effect for all purposes.
SECTION 10. Electronic Signatures.
This Ordinance may be executed with electronic signatures in accordance with Government Code §16.5. Such electronic signatures will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.
SECTION 11. Execution.
The Mayor, or presiding officer, is hereby authorized to affix his signature to this Ordinance signifying its adoption by the City Council of the City of Camarillo, and the City Clerk, or duly appointed deputy, is directed to attest thereto.
SECTION 12. Effective Date.
This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its date of adoption.
SECTION 13. Publication.
The City Clerk is directed to certify this ordinance and cause it to be published in the manner required by law.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED on August 28, 2024.
Tony Trembley, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kristy Buxkemper, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Rachel H. Richman, City Attorney