As used in this chapter:

    "Administrator" means the building inspector of the city or his or her duly authorized representative.

    "Alter" means to change the size, shape, height or other physical characteristics of a street graphic.

    "Amendment" means a change in the provisions of this chapter, properly affected in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

    "Amortization" means the elimination of non-conforming street graphics over time in accordance with the schedule set forth in this chapter.

    "Appeal" means a procedure whereby any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the administrator in any matter related to the interpretation or enforcement of this chapter may seek relief from the city council.

    "Awning" means any rooflike structure made of cloth, metal or other material attached to a building and erected over window, doorway or other openings in a building in such manner as to permit its being raised or retracted to a position against the building when not in use.

    "Billboard" means any single- or double-faced street graphic that is permanently fixed or placed on real estate premises or improvements and that is used for the display of message or advertising not associated with the establishment located on the premises. A billboard typically has provisions for changing the message or advertisement thereon.

    "Canopy" means a rooflike structure similar to an awning, except that it cannot be raised or retracted to a position against the building.

    "Changeable Copy Sign" means a sign which has provision for changing the message thereon either manually or electronically.

    "Complex Identification Sign" is a monument sign used to identify a commercial zoned building complex/development.  The sign is located on the common ground of the building development complex.

    "Corrective Order" means a legally binding order to effect compliance with this chapter, issued by the administrator in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

    "Establishment" means either of the following:

    1.    An institutional, business, commercial or industrial activity that is carried on or performed in one or more buildings; or

    2.    An institutional, business, commercial or industrial activity that occupies a portion of a building such that:

    a.    The activity is a logical and separate entity from the other activities within the building and not a department of the whole, and

    b.    The activity has either a separate entrance from the exterior of the building, or a separate entrance from a common and clearly defined entryway that has direct access to the exterior of the building.

    "Flush-Mounted Sign" means any sign attached to or erected against any wall, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the wall and not projected more than six inches out or away from the wall. Such signs shall not be painted directly on any exterior wall.

    "Freestanding Sign" means any sign supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground in a permanent manner.

    "Frontage" means the lineal extent of the lot abutting a street or public way, or the lineal extent of a lot abutting a public parking area if the lot does not have street frontage; except that: (i) if a lot has frontage on two intersecting streets, the total frontage shall be the lineal distance measured along the right-of-way line of the two intersecting streets; (ii) if a lot has frontage on two streets which do not intersect, the total frontage of the lot shall be the lineal distance measured along the right-of-way of the street on which the building on the lot faces (or if there is no building on the lot, then on the street containing the shorter lineal distance); and (iii) if a lot adjoins the right-of-way of an interstate highway, the extent or boundary of the lot abutting the highway shall not be considered frontage unless the lot does not have access to any other street, public way or parking lot.

    "Lot" means any tract or parcel of land which is a single unit for the purpose (whether present or future) of development and which is under one ownership. The term "lot" may or may not be synonymous with "lot of record."

    "Marquee" means any canopy made of durable materials that is a permanent fixture of the building to which it is attached.

    "Message" means a communication of identification or advertising information visually perceived. Communications may consist of words, abbreviations, numbers, symbols, pictures, geometric shapes, etc.

    "Mobile" or "Portable Marquee" means any street graphic not designed to be presently attached to a building or part thereof or to be permanently anchored to the ground. Such street graphic primarily includes, but is not limited to, signs attached to wood or metal frames designed to be self-supporting and movable; paper, cardboard or canvas signs wrapped around supporting poles, etc.

    "Monument Sign" is a free standing type of sign in which the entire bottom of the sign is generally in contact with or in close proximity to the ground.  It is not attached to a building but is erected upon or supported by the ground, a ground planter box, or similar low support structure.  The total height of a monument sign measured from the surface of the ground at the highest elevation closest to the base of the sign to the top of the sign shall not exceed six (6) lineal feet.

    "Nonconforming Street Graphics" means any street graphic which existed on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter which does not comply with the regulations set forth herein.

    Off-Premises Advertising Sign. See "Billboard."

    "Premises" means any lot and all of the structures, improvements and uses located thereon or thereat.

    "Projecting Sign" means any sign which is supported by an exterior wall of a building or suspended beneath any awning, canopy or marquee with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the wall, awning, canopy or marquee and projecting more than six inches out or away from the wall, awning, canopy or marquee, including any awning, canopy or marquee where graphics are displayed thereon or therefrom.

    "Reconstruct" means to re-erect a street graphic after it has been damaged or destroyed.

    "Relocate" means to move a street graphic to another portion of the premises or to different premises.

    "Replace" means to substitute a street graphic for an existing street graphic.

    Right-of-Way, Public. "Public Right-of-Way" means real estate owned by the city or any other unit of government which is dedicated for street, alley or other public travel uses and purposes.

    "Roof Line" means the edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette, on the side of the building where the street graphic is located.

    "Roof-Mounted Sign" means any sign erected or maintained on the roof of any building.

    "Shopping Center Identification Sign" means any sign identifying a building or group of buildings that is under single ownership or control that provides common off-street parking facilities, and that is occupied by two or more retail sales establishments. The identification sign shall identify the name of the complex only.

    "Sign" means any object, devise, display or structure or part thereof that is used to advertise, identify, display or attract attention to any object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service or event whether or not related to the premises on which the sign is situated, by any means including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors or illumination.

    "Sign Area" means the area of the one imaginary square or rectangle that would completely enclose all parts of a sign including the background.

    "Sign Area Allowance" means the total of the areas of all signs which a particular establishment is permitted to display under the terms of this chapter.

    "Street Graphic" means any on-premises identification or advertising sign, or any billboard or off-premises advertising sign, visible from the public right-of-way or from any parking area used by the general public.

    "Street Graphic Permit" means a permit issued by the administrator to regulate the erection, expansion, alteration, relocation or reconstruction of street graphics in all parts of the city.

    Street Frontage. See "Frontage."

    "Variance" means a relaxation of the requirements of this chapter that are applicable to a particular street graphic.

    "Window Sign" means any sign visible from the exterior of a building which is painted on, affixed to, or suspended immediately in front of or behind a window. A permanent window sign is one that is displayed for thirty (30) days or more. A temporary window sign is one that is displayed for thirty (30) days or less. (Ord. 1705 § 2, 1998; Ord. 892 § 2-2, 1991)