If city planners have their way, miles of sparkling streamers, billowing 'sale' flags, and balloon monsters offering up furniture should disappear Friday when a city of Houston ordinance takes effect.
The rules, passed in late 2008, go into effect Jan. 1 after a year-long "warning period." Under the changes, the city bans so-called "attention-getting devices" that billow in the wind in order to get a potential customer's attention.
"We're trying to reduce the clutter," said Tommy Friedlander, who helped write the ordinance as part of the city's on-premise sign task force. The group included business owners who supported the changes, as long as they went into effect city-wide, so all businesses would be on a level playing field.
"When you drive into the city from any direction, you see miles of pennants and streamers, and banners and balloons and so forth," Friedlander said. "Our committee felt it was something that was needed, and that by removing the items, we could greatly enhance the image of our city."
Some business owners say they were not aware that the rules will change this week. "It's news to me," said Arnie Talisman, who owns Don Jacobson Automobiles on Hillcroft in southwest Houston. "It's a shame that they are going to make us take them down."
Under the ordinance, Talisman could face a fine of up to $500 per day if he does not remove several dozen yards of sparkling red, silver and blue streamers that cover his used car lot like a canopy.
"It's almost like making us take down our sign," he said. "An attention-getting device is an attention-getter for a business, and you should be allowed to advertise your business."
"This is definitely bad timing. In this type of economy, for them to come out of an ordinance like this is beyond ridiculous," Talisman said.
The city's Public Works Department will enforce the new rules, outlined here, beginning Friday. A team of inspectors already enforce other rules on the types and size of signs that businesses can post, and their duties will be expanded to include the "attention-getting devices," a city spokesman said. However, Public Works spokesman Alvin Wright said initially, inspectors will focus on "education," not ticketing.
"Our inspectors have already been communicating with owners of material regarding the attention-getting device ordinance," he said.
