Council Balks at Banning Giant Inflatable Advertising Figures

In the battle of Godzilla versus Los Angeles City Hall, the giant green lizard took round two Tuesday.

The City Council balked at banning inflatable advertising figures, including Godzilla and King Kong, from atop Los Angeles businesses after council members agreed that a giant balloon monster that is tacky to some people may be cute and fun to others.

The council decided instead to form a task force to reexamine the proposed ban and determine whether there should be exceptions for some parts of the city, including Hollywood, where residents might not mind the inflatable figures.

The task force of building inspectors, planners and attorneys was given 60 days to come up with revised rules for the inflatables.

“In some areas, I mention Hollywood, people not only like them, but they feel they are part of the playfulness of what’s going on at entertainment venues,” said Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said she understands why city building inspectors want the inflatables banished from Los Angeles as visual blight.

“We all agree there is such a thing as visual blight, but not everyone agrees what it is,” Galanter said. “I think we ought to respect the fact that we are a city of quite varying tastes.”

Adam Melendez of Whittier-based Creatable Inflatables was among those speaking against the ban.

“Giant advertising balloons are safe, temporary, inexpensive, effective and pleasing to the eye,” said Melendez, whose firm does most of its business in Los Angeles.

Ronald Merckling of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce also urged the council to shoot down the ban.

He said Toyota of Hollywood and other businesses believe they have received many more customers because of the use of inflatable figures.

Councilwoman Laura Chick, who supported the ban, acknowledged that some of the inflated animals are “cute.” But she added that the signs can be a distraction to motorists, and could pose a safety hazard if they are not securely anchored.

The current city sign code prohibits the placement of signs on top of businesses or in areas that can be viewed from freeways.

But there is no provision in the law clearly stating that inflatable figures are signs, even though businesses put them up to attract customers, said Richard Holguin, executive director of the Building and Safety Department.

As a result, building inspectors do not have clear authority to order businesses to remove the inflatables, he said.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski joined Chick in urging the council to plug what she said was a “loophole” in the law allowing a proliferation of giant monkeys and teddy bears.

“I don’t think these make sense in our city,” Miscikowski said. “They really don’t enhance anything.”

The council voted two months ago to ask the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance that explicitly bans the inflatable figures, but when the ordinance came up for a vote Tuesday, many council members said they had second thoughts.

“A lot of people felt these were cutie things,” said Councilman Mike Hernandez. “It wasn’t being looked at as a problem.”

For new Councilman Alex Padilla, the inflatables issue was his first major issue of debate.

“I view a prohibition as being a little too extreme,” he said.