SR-121173-7H~ Santa Monica, California, December 5, 1973
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"`"~ TO: Mayor and City Council~+~+V~+ g~s~.~°~
~~ FROM: .City Staff ~+~~ I 4i ~~I~r~
SUBJECT: City Entrance Signs ~~ ` 1 ~ ~y~~
7H1S MUST BE
- - RETURNED YO THE
- CITY CIERA'S OFFICE.
Introduction FoRpauNC:
At the Jnne 25, 1973 meeting, the City. Council appropriated $2,500 to
Account 8411-920 to design Gity entrance signs. This report examines design and -
cost alternatives £or new entrance-signs..:.
Background
"The City entrance signs that have existed for over ..ten years on the major
arteries into our City are in need of replacement.. The existing signs were fabri-
Gated of 3-M Company Engineering Grade Scotchlite on aluminum background; and are
5' by 3' in size.. There are I9 locations. on major arteries where a visitor to
our. community would possibly be exposed to a City entrance sign. Three of these
surface street locations are on State highways, which will require a permit.
~ilternative Solutions
.There are two basic sign formats that could be used to provide both day and
-night-time visibiliy of the City entrance signs. We emphasize-night-time because
a sign must be legible, in our opinion; 24-hours a day if `it is to have any effec-
five use. The two formats for night-time .application which we should consider are:
1) 3-M .Company "i-~i-Intensity" Scotchlite sheeting on aluminum blanks.
This material is similar to that which is on our existing City entrance signs in
that it reflects light from the motorists' head lamps to provide night-time
legibility.
. _Z-
This"Hi-Intensity," of course, is far superior to that which we have on our existing
signs, keeping in mind that the Engineering Grade Scotchlite utilized over ten years
ago has advanced in the state of the art, A 5' by 3' size sign of this type would
cost an estimated $200 per unit. We estimate that installation costs for this type
sign, including posts; brackets and labor, would be an additional $200 per unit.
Thus, our overall estimate for the installation of one sign would be approximately
$400 per unit.-
2) Internally il3uminated electrical signs. This type sign would be aluminum
- constnaction having plastic panels. upon which the sign message would be displayed.
The florescent lighting tubes, ballast and other electrical components are within
the sign strueture itself and are not visible from the street. A 5' by 3''siza sign
of this type would cost an estimated'$600 per unit. We estimate installation costs
for this type of sign, including posts, conduit, electrical hook-up and labor would
approximate $900 per unit. Thus, our overall estimate for the installation of one
sign would be approximately $1;500 per unit.
While the "Hi-Intensity" Scotchlite sign is less expensive than the electrical
sign, it does not represent a major departure from the existing City entrance sign
format, The electrical sign does provide the distinctive change in format and
allows us the opportunity to place s double-face message on the same installation.
However, the installation and maintenance costs are greater than that of Scotchlite
sheeting.
Recommendation
As we indicated above, it is our understanding that Council, in appropriating
$2,500 for sign design purposes only, desired a distinctly different type of City
entrance sign than is existing. Therefore, we x=ould recommend the purchase and
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installation of internally illuminated, double-faced electrical signs for placement
on our major arteries at our Gity Limits. We have attached a Polaroid photograph
of a recommended entrance. sign format,. along with a sketch showing atypical: curb-
side installation and message that motorists would read as-they exit from Santa
Monica. In order to implement this recommendation; it will be necessary for Council
to appropriate an additional $30,OOd to Account #8411-920 for the purchase and
installation of these signs`.
Prepared by: Parking ~ Traffic. Engineer
City Engineer
TJW/sg,
Atts.
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PL£AS~ CDI~E AGA1N
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ROADBED OI
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ILLUMINATED SIGN
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