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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 12, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 22 of 37 12. #15-3779, TRINITY CHURCH, 2060 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND VARIANCE – RESOLUTION NO. 6552 Planning Commission and Staff are recommending approval and Staff has prepared an approval resolution. McMillan noted she was on the City Council in 2005 when a discussion was had regarding the school sign. The Council at that time did not want the message to be changing often and that to her knowledge the school only changes it once a day. McMillan stated in fairness to the school, the City should perhaps allow them to do the same as the Church. McMillan stated in her view changing the message every eight seconds might be too often. Ken Jenson, Trinity Church, stated they have timed the traffic going by and the line of sight and that it takes approximately six seconds for a car to travel that distance. Jenson stated in his view there is six seconds of viewing time and that the eight seconds proposed is very acceptable. Jenson stated he has sat out in front of the sign by the high school and that it changes every three seconds depending on the time of day. Jenson stated the school is not doing that all the time. Jenson indicated he has talked with a lot of other churches and a number of them change it 15 times a day. Jenson stated they would like as much flexibility as possible. Jenson noted the sign will be for the church as well as for community groups and that he would like to stay with the eight seconds if they can. McMillan asked what the goal is for changing the sign so often. Jenson stated their view is they are not putting up a flashing sign or video but that they would like to send a simple message consisting of a line or two. Jenson stated they can live with more than eight seconds, but that when someone drives by at 55 miles an hour in six seconds, the drivers cannot absorb much. McMillan stated it sounds like the goal is to rotate a lot of different messages throughout the day but that the drivers will be different throughout the day. Jenson stated 4,500 cars go by the church in a day, which is a lot of opportunity to communicate what is going on at the church and in the community. Jenson stated they are trying to have some flexibility and that once a day would be totally unreasonable. McMillan stated she would like to have the signs consistent out of fairness. McMillan stated the City will likely be seeing more of these reader boards and that they should be consistent. Gaffron indicated Staff could discuss the sign with the school to see exactly what they are doing. Jenson stated they are worried about frost and that they would like to get the work done in the near future. Jenson stated they could live with the message changing every 60 seconds. Printup indicated he is fine with the 60 seconds. Levang asked what some of the messages would be.