WEST JORDAN, UTAH – July 23, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Photography: Jamie Cowen
Art is in the eye of the beholder.
City sign ordinances … not so much.
That was the prevailing notion earlier this week at West Jordan City Hall, when city managers ordered the owners of the Azteca De Oro Taqueria at 7800 South 3200 West to remove their murals featuring human rights activists Caesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta or pay a fine of $100 per day.
Artist and teacher Miguel Galaz is the man behind the mural. He considers the restaurant’s walls a cultural canvas, independent works of art reflecting community pride and celebrating social history. He says they’re also a valuable teaching tool for his students.
But the city of West Jordan didn’t see it that way.
The city said they have received complaints about the murals and upon closer inspection determined the artwork constituted signage and was thereby subject to West Jordan’s sign code. That code says only 15 percent of a business’ wall can be covered with a sign or other types of artwork, including murals.
In a statement released to Gephardt Daily Thursday afternoon West Jordan insisted the murals’ content had no bearing on the city’s decision to ask for their removal. “The content of the murals at the Taqueria is not the issue and never has been. The owner of the property as well as the artist have been advised that the content is not a violation, only the coverage area. ”
Others aren’t so sure.
After word of the dispute got out a support page popped up on social media calling for a demonstration in support of the restaurant Thursday night at 6 p.m.
According to a posting by a page administrator there was more to the city’s decision than meets the eye.
“Through this process we have had white people scream derogatory terms, call the police and the city to report vandalism, and in one instance were confronted by a white male who accused us of having a fiesta and telling us we needed to go back to where we came from,” the poster wrote. “The city gave little notice about the need to remove the murals and will begin to fine the restaurant daily until they are removed, putting a local artist in a financial situation that he simply cannot afford.”
The city’s decision was the subject of discussion during West Jordan’s City Council meeting Wednesday. Leaders seemed taken back by the community’s reaction and announced Thursday that fines levied against the restaurant were being lifted. In a statement released late Thursday the city also signaled a willingness to reconsider the order the murals be removed.
“We have granted Taqueria Azteca de Oro an extension as we continue to work with the business owner to find resolution, so no fines are accruing . This issue has never come up. The council will be looking at the sign code as a whole and inviting public input as we work through this issue.”
West Jordan’s Official Response To The Taqueria Azteca de Oro Controversy:
· West Jordan City Code Enforcement received a complaint on June 8, 2015 regarding the murals being painted on the Taqueria at 3200 West 7800 South.
· After conducting an inspection, the property owner was advised that per city ordinance 12-3-2, no more than 15% of the façade could be covered with the murals.
· The content of the murals at the Taqueria is not the issue and never has been. The owner of the property as well as the artist have been advised that the content is not a violation, only the coverage area.
· The process to change the code has been explained to the artist (apply for a text amendment through the Planning Department) and he has been advised that it is his right to proceed in this manner. This issue has never come up before and the City Council is willing to look at making changes to the sign code.
· The mural is not considered graffiti because the property owner granted permission.
· Under city code, murals/wall art are considered signage and are subject to the code that states it can’t cover more than 15% of the façade of the building.
The city also plans to work with the restaurant owners and possibly make some changes to the city ordinance when it comes to murals like this.
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