A-Frames may be A-OK

Karen C. Tully Arizona Daily Wildcat An A-frame sidewalk sign sits outside of Desert Vintage and Costume on Fourth Avenue, yesterday. A recent ordinance banned the use of these signs in Tucson.

The Tucson City Council decided Monday to reconsider the ordinance it passed that prohibits the use of sidewalk A-frame signs.

The signs were allowed in 1990 to give businesses a tool to stir up customers during the economic recession, said Andrea Ibanez, an aide to Ward 6 Councilwoman Molly McKasson.

Ward 6 includes the University of Arizona.

Some businesses, hidden from the street, use the signs to let people know they are upstairs or around the corner, she said.

Ibanez said the council originally voted to ban signs because they distract motorists and clutter sidewalks.

She said, however, that some business need the A-frame.

"They've got a valid point. With no parking out front or visible signs, how would passers-by know the business was even there," she said.

Area businesses agreed.

"We're not on the corner, you can't even see us," said Andrew Sands, manager of The Great Impasta Express, 914 E. Speedway Blvd.

Sands said Great Impasta makes about $20 a day from the sign, but the word-of-mouth generated by it brings in more.

Paul Howard, manager of Grandma Tony's Pizza, 970 E. University Blvd., said the street's back-in parking is more of a problem than the harmless signs.

"We're upstairs and out of sight, out of mind," Howard said.

The signs are designed to show pedestrians where to go, Howard said. He said they do not distract drivers because they can't see the signs behind the parked cars.

"I don't feel anyone is going off the road reading these signs," Howard said.

Arnold Sanchez, owner of Leo's Mexican Restaurant, 974 E. University Blvd., said eliminating the signs would be "unfair," and would "hurt businesses a lot."

"For me, when I am out shopping, those A-frame signs help a lot," Sanchez said.

The council is scheduled to reconsider the ordinance at the next council meeting.

Ibanez said two new council members will be sworn in Dec. 1, before the next meeting and they may change the council's stance on the signs.