The San Jose City Council Tuesday unanimously passed the "Little Saigon" compromise that will allow supporters to have a sign with that name erected along a major city street within a matter of months after they raise the funds to pay for it.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed believes today's council action will "resolve this matter in a way that I think the vast majority of the community supports."

The controversy over what to name the part of San Jose around Story Road that is dominated by businesses serving the city's Vietnamese community began in 2007 when the council approved a measure from Councilwoman Madison Nguyen that designated the area as the "Saigon Business District."

However, a large segment of the city's Vietnamese community immediately began protesting the name saying the area should have been named "Little Saigon" because that was the most popular choice in a survey done by the city's redevelopment agency and reflects the wishes of the majority of the community. The protests grew in recent months to a point where an anti-communist crusader famous in the Vietnamese community actually began a hunger strike outside San Jose City Hall over the naming issue.

Two weeks ago, Councilman Sam Liccardo brokered the compromise proposal, based on an idea from Vice Mayor Dave Cortese, that the council formally approved Tuesday. It allows Little Saigon supporters to erect a privately financed sign at or near the intersection of Story Road and McLaughlin Avenue for up to three years. The sign can remain up permanently if supporters take it through the city's review process during the three years.

"It is my hope certainly that the temporary sign becomes a permanent sign," Reed said.

Council members Pete Constant and Forrest Williams were absent from the meeting and did not vote.