Although the staff reports posted for April 6's City Council Meeting did not reveal any clues as to the ideas city staff will present to city council, they will undoubtedly include examples of what other cities are doing to regulate liquor stores, bars and possibly tattoo shops.
In previous City Council meetings a significant number of residents and persons have spoken during public comment in objection to several packaged liquor license applications. Several complaints emphasized an influx in Convenience/Liquor Stores, Drug Paraphernalia, Tattoo Parlors, and Restricted Gaming establishments. The City Council in the past has approved moratoria or limitations in specifically zoned neighborhood areas only to have the problem relocate to adjacent neighborhoods. It started with a moratorium downtown, which led to a proliferation of liquor stores on Well avenue, which led to a moratorium for liquor stores on Wells Avenue, which ultimately led to a proliferation of liquor stores on South Virginia Street.
My thoughts on this moratorium can be found here. I'm not sure why tattoo shops are being lumped into a category with liquors and bars, other than the fact we have an out-of-touch mayor. I think the mayor should look up some current statistics on the number of Americans who have tattoos. In June 2006 the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology published the results of a telephone survey which took place in 2004. It found that 36% of Americans ages 18–29, 24% of those 30-40 and 15% of those 41-51 had a tattoo. In September 2006, the Pew Research Center conducted a telephone survey which found that 36% of Americans ages 18–25, 40% of those 26-40 and 10% of those 41-64 had a tattoo. So if anyone is wondering how 31 tattoo shops can survive in a metro valley of over 400,000, well there's your answer.
Anyone who feels their business would be impacted by this discussion and any subsequent decisions DEFINITELY should show up to this meeting and listen/watch the presentation by city staff. It will provide clues into what the council might decide to do in the future. This includes city-wide tattoo shop owners, bar owners and liquor store owners, or fans of any of the above.
I think you have to go back to your bit on signs. The new way of pinning up a vinyl sign is cheap and easy...and does seem to circumvent the sign ordinance.