The City issued a request for qualifications from professional firms to provide assistance in amending the City’s sign regulations. The scope of work to be performed includes the drafting of amendments to the sign regulations in the City’s Land Development Code (LDC), ordinance preparation and presentations to the Land Development Review Board and City Council. The consultant will work with City Staff to analyze the City’s current sign regulations, research and evaluate proposed changes to the sign regulations, prepare ordinances and make presentations with sign companies at public hearings and workshops. This program will have two phases: Phase 1 will include updating the Code relative to the recent Supreme Court ruling; and Phase 2 will be the update to the overall Code.
Two firms submitted qualifications by the deadline, including one from Mellgren Planning Group (MPG) which is located in Ft. Lauderdale. MPG is a leading firm in planning and zoning with an emphasis on Codes. MPG has authored zoning codes and land development regulations for the Floridian cities of Parkland, Wilton Manors, Coconut Creek, Plant City and Dania Beach, along with many others. The firm is uniquely experienced in public participation and consensus building.
MPG is teaming with Susan Trevarthen of the law firm Weiss Serota Helfman Cole and Bierman, PL. Ms. Trevarthen is an expert on constitutional law including First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court's recent ruling on signs this past summer in Reed v Gilbert, AZ affects the validity of signs and Ms. Trevarthen will review the current LDC and Comprehensive Plan to ensure that the City's regulations in keeping with the ruling and make recommendations for necessary changes. She will also review the work prepared by MPG.