Visalia Sign Ordinance Presented

Window signage in Visalia may soon be reduced to only 30 percent on businesses and some owners aren’t happy about it. Monday the city council was presented with the ordinance. Many people including business owners and the Chamber of Commerce showed up to the city council meeting to voice their opinion. They believe the ordinance would hurt their business. Insurance specialist Diego Ramos said “This is gonna take away a lot of our marketing tools so it’s really going to affect our sales activity.” Fiesta Auto Insurance relies on window signs and their mascot, a black bird, to bring in business but soon they may have to get rid of them. “The sign ordinance would not allow someone to dress in a costume and stand outside, in our community every job is precious,” said Chamber of Commerce President Gail Zurek. Visalia’s sign regulations have not been updated since the 1970s. Monday city leaders looked at the ordinance that would mandate 70 percent of the surface space on business windows to be signage. Assistant City Planner Josh McDonald said “It regulates all types of signage in the community anything from window signs and some temporary as well. “It also regulates how large signs can be and where they can be located. Some signs identify a business but not everyone thinks they work “Others say that signs create blight in the community and the answer is probably in the middle,” McDonald said. Changes in technology are making them address the signs now. Some businesses are hopeful the ordinance is not approved as presented. Although a vote could happen Monday, business owners and the Chamber of Commerce hope it’s continued until they can reach a mutual agreement.