(a) Illuminated signs should only be used if necessary.
(b) Any sign illumination shall be shielded or arranged as to confine the illumination to the sign, avoid glare or other disturbance on adjacent property and rights-of-way.
(c) A direct light source for illuminated signs is preferred. This is usually the best arrangement because the sign will appear to be better integrated with the building's architecture.
(1) Light fixtures supported in front of the structure can cast desirable light on the sign and generally a portion of the face of the structure as well. direct lighting emphasizes the continuity of the structure's surface, and signs become an integral part of the façade.
(2) Direct lighting is also appropriate because it produces a more intimate ambiance on the street. the lighting of signs should be considered as an element in a building's overall lighting design.
(3) The light source shall be shielded. Whenever direct lighting fixtures are used, care should be taken to properly shield the light source to prevent glare from spilling over into residential areas and any public right-of-way.
(d) Signs should be lighted only to the minimum level required for nighttime readability.
(e) If back-lighted signs are used, solid letters are encouraged. signs consisting of opaque individually cut letters mounted directly on a structure (push-through letters) can often use a distinctive element of the structure's façade as a backdrop, thereby providing a better integration of the sign with the structure.
(f) Any illuminated sign, or any illuminated element of any sign, may turn on or off, or change its brightness, provided that:
(1) Change of illumination does not produce any apparent motion of the visual image, including but not limited to illusion of moving objects, moving patterns or bands of light, expanding or contracting shapes, rotation or any similar effect of animation.
(2) Change of illumination does not occur in less than five (5) second intervals.
(3) Any sign that incorporates a change of illumination shall not be permitted within 1,000 feet of another sign that incorporates a change of illumination on the same side of a roadway visible in the same direction of travel.
(4) Such sign shall contain a default design that will freeze the illumination in one position or prevent further illumination if a malfunction occurs.
(5) Any sign that incorporates a change of illumination shall not be permitted on any wall or fence.
(g) No sign or any part of any sign may move or rotate or give the illusion of moving or rotating.
(h) Any sign visible from a public street shall not display any illuminated light or a color authorized by law to be used in traffic control signals, or so near to any such light or color as to tend, in the opinion of the Chief Of Police, City Manager, or designee, to interfere with, mislead or confuse operators of motor vehicles or pedestrians on any public street.
(Ord. 17-46. Passed 2-5-18.)