Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
09/30/2008
Agenda Report # 321
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Neighborhood Watch Signs
INITIATED BY: Engineering
Recommendation: Approve the attached Resolution establishing standard
Neighborhood Watch Signs to be used in Columbus and a variance to UDO Section
4.4.5 Prohibited Signs to be installed on public rights-of-way.
Background: The Neighborhood Watch Program is administered by the
Columbus Police Department in an effort to improve public safety in residential
neighborhoods. An important part of this program is to post Neighborhood
Watch Signs within the neighborhoods participating in this program. The Police
Department initially purchased the sign providing a list of locations to the
Traffic Engineering Division for which we installed and maintained the signs.
All Neighborhood Watch programs used the same Sign for which the Police
Department provided replacement of damaged/missing Signs. This procedure
worked until this year when Hilton Heights was granted a variance by Council to
install a different type of Neighborhood Watch sign requiring the Traffic
Engineering Division to maintain two types of Signs.
Analysis: The continued practice of allowing different Neighborhood Watch
signs makes it very difficult for Traffic Engineering to maintain the signs.
It is our recommendation that Council approve four types of Neighborhood Watch
Signs for neighborhood's to choose. Two of these signs are Standard type signs
that have been approved for use to date. Two are new signs that allow a
portion of the sign to display the Subdivision Name and/or a Subdivision Logo
as options. It will be the responsibility of the subdivision
association/residents to pay the cost of the Subdivision Name/Logo and be
approved by the Police and Engineering Departments. This will give subdivision
four choices and reduce the types of spare signs that we will maintain in
inventory. The signs will be limited to entrance points and no more than four
signs with the locations determined by the Police and Engineering Departments.
Any additional signs would be at the expense of the Home Owners Association
and/or Residents.
Financial Considerations: A Neighborhood Watch signs cost $11.91 and a post
cost $15.83 totaling $27.74 plus labor and equipment to install each sign.
Legal Considerations: Since privately purchased signs to include Neighborhood
Watch signs are prohibited on public right-of-way by the UDO Section 4.4.5, the
use of said signs requires a variance to UDO Section 4.4.5 Prohibited Signs, to
be installed on public rights-of-way.
Recommendations/ Actions: Approve the attached Resolution establishing standard
Neighborhood Watch Signs to be used in Columbus and a variance to UDO Section
4.4.5 Prohibited Signs to be installed on public rights-of-way.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING VARIANCE TO UDO SECTION 4.4.5 TO ALLOW NEIGHBORHOOD
WATCH SIGNS PURCHASED BY PRIVATE PARTIES BE INSTALLED BY CITY CREWS;
AUTHORIZING FOUR STYLES OF NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SIGNS IDENTIFIED BY REFERENCE
DOCUMENT AND LISTED AS EXHIBITS 1 THRU 4 TO BE USED WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM. THE SIGNS WILL BE LIMITED TO ENTRANCE
POINTS AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF POLICE AND ENGINEERING WITH THE
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND/OR THE RESIDENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF ANY
ADDITIONAL SIGNS AND SUBDIVISION NAME/LOGOS.
WHEREAS, the Columbus Police Department administers the City's Neighborhood
Watch Program to enhance public safety in residential neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Watch Program includes posting of Neighborhood Watch
Signs on public street right-of-way; and,
WHEREAS, the installation of Neighborhood Watch Signs on public street
rights-of-way not belonging to the City government is prohibited by UDO Section
4.4.5 requires approval of a variance; and,
WHEREAS, Traffic Engineering can not maintain multiple styles of said signs
requesting that four styles be approved to standardize Neighborhood Watch
Signs; and,
WHEREAS, four styles of Neighborhood Watch Signs are recommended for approval
for the Neighborhood Watch Program and are made part of this Resolution by
reference identified as Exhibits 1 thru 4.
WHEREAS, the signs will be limited to entrance points as determined by the
Departments of Police and Engineering. Additional signs and subdivision logos
will be at the expense of the Homeowners Association and/or Residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That a variance is hereby authorized to the UDO Section 4.4.5 to allow
Neighborhood Watch Signs purchased by private parties, but installed by city
crews; authorizing four styles of Neighborhood Watch Signs identified by
reference document and listed as exhibits 1 thru 4 to be used with the Police
Department?s Neighborhood Watch Program. The signs will be limited to entrance
points as determined by the Department of Engineering with the Homeowners
Association and/or the residents responsible for the cost of any additional
signs and subdivision name/logos.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting ___________.
Councilor Anthony voting ___________.
Councilor Baker voting ___________.
Councilor Barnes voting ___________.
Councilor Davis voting ___________.
Councilor Henderson voting ___________.
Councilor Hunter voting ___________.
Councilor McDaniel voting ___________.
Councilor Pugh voting ___________.
Councilor Woodson voting ___________.
______________________________ ______________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk Jim Wetherington, Mayor
- Neighborhood Watch Sign Exhibits 9Oct08.pdf
Attachments