RES 20-786 - Allowing Emergency Exemption to Sign Code (Temp) RESOLUTION NO. 20-786
A RESOLUTION of the City of Federal Way,Washington,temporarily
allowing certain signs to be placed in front of businesses.
WHEREAS,the outbreak of the novel coronavirus(COVID-19)and its rapid progression in
Washington state continues to threaten the life and health of its people as well as the economy of the
state; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020,the Governor of the State of Washington proclaimed a
State of Emergency-due to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS,on March 9,2020,Mayor Ferrell issued a Proclamation of Emergency No.20-
01 in response to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS,on March 11,2020,the Governor issued Proclamation 20-08,which found that
COVID-19 spreads easily from person to person and may result in serious illness or death, and
continues to spread in the state with cases expected to double every five to seven days,without any
expectation to end soon; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
issues CDCs Recommendations for the next 30 days of Mitigation Strategies for Seattle-King,
Pierce, and Snohomish Counties based on current situation with widespread COVID-19
transmission and affected health care facilities, which recommends "extensive community
mitigation activities" to slow the spread of, and minimize morbidity and mortality caused by
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national
emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
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WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, the Governor issued an order to require every
Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity,ban all gatherings for
social,spiritual,and recreational purposes,and close all businesses except essential businesses;and
WHEREAS, under the Governor's order, restaurants are permitted to provide food to the
public so long as it is sold as take-out only and not consumed on the premises; and
WHEREAS,those businesses that are deemed to provide essential services remain open,but
have in some cases altered their hours of operation; and
WHEREAS, the local business community is suffering unprecedented hardship due to
closures, loss of supply, and reduced patronage due to the Governor's stay-at-home order; and
WHEREAS, a simple temporary"A-board"or"sandwich board"sign in front of a business
used to indicate that it remains open for business or explaining their hours of operation can in some
instances increase patronage of a business during this emergency and thus mitigate some of these
impacts; and
WHEREAS,the City Council seeks to temporarily amend the City sign code to allow these
types of signs during this emergency.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY,
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section .Due to the ongoing national health emergency caused by the COVID-19 outbreak,
and consistent with the Governor's stay-at-home order and Federal Way Proclamation of Emergency
No. 20-01, enforcement of Title 19.140 FWRC (Signs) is suspended through January 1, 2021 to
allow portable signs on private property with the conditions described below:
(a) Each business is allowed two portable "A-Board" signs;
Resolution No. 20-786 Page 2 of 4
(b) Signs shall be constructed of durable material;
(c) Sign area shall neither exceed six square feet per face nor 36 inches in height;
(d) Signs shall not be located in such a way as to impede visibility for traffic or pedestrians;
(e) Signs shall not be placed in required parking spaces;
(f) Signs shall not impede access to other businesses located on the site. .
Section 2. Severability.If any section,sentence,clause or phrase of this resolution should be
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, sentence,
clause, or phrase of this resolution.
.ection 33. 017rection . The City Clerk and the codifiers of this resolution are authorized to
make necessary corrections to this resolution including, but not limited to, the correction of
scrivener/clerical errors, references, resolution numbering, section/subsection numbers and any
references thereto.
Section 4. ratification.Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of
this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed.
Section 5. Effective Date. This resolution is necessary to respond to an ongoing emergency
and shall be effective immediately upon passage by the Federal Way City Council.
RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY,
WASHINGTON this 7th day of April, 2020.
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CITY OF,FEDERAL WAY:
Ef
i
H , Rf,1I.,, MAYOR
ATTEST:
444 ._.�,�,�,,
T m,PA LAN1�:'�� COURTNEY, ", CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
J. RYAN CALL, 'Y ATTORNEY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 04/02/2020
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 04/07/2020
RESOLUTION NO.: 20-786
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