Sofas in yards and on open porches would be outlawed under a proposal designed to relieve Minneapolis neighborhoods of tackiness.

"Our city can either look good or it can look tacky, and tacky is not what we want," said City Council President Barbara Johnson before the council's regulatory committee approved the measure banning upholstered furniture and mattresses outdoors.

Council Member Cam Gordon, who represents some University of Minnesota neighborhoods, unsuccessfully argued for exempting open porches from the ban. He said people relaxing on porches create a good atmosphere that puts more eyes on the street.

Existing nuisance controls could be used to order the removal of problem porch furniture, he said.

HEALTH HAZARDS: Council Member Diane Hofstede, whose ward also touches the campus, proposed the ban. Community groups told her that upholstered furniture and mattresses left outside can grow mold, harbor rodents and catch fire.

According to fire officials, seven fires involving upholstered furniture outdoors occurred in the most recent three years, plus another eight on enclosed porches. Only one fire was reported in the same period involving furniture made for outdoors.

IN OTHER BUSINESS: In another matter, the regulatory committee scheduled a May 13 public hearing on a proposal to delay until next March a drop in taxi fares triggered by falling gas prices.

The council decided last summer to tie cab fares to an urban transportation index. The cab industry has lobbied for changes that would keep fares higher.

Council members directed city regulatory staff to research other indexes that might be used to determine changes in cab fares.

STEVE BRANDT