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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-03-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS (2)AGENDA REPORT yManagerApproval Item to be presented by: Steve Stark 4 NEW BUSINESS DATE: March 22, 1994 SUBJECT: PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS DEPARTMENT: Finance BACKGROUND City Council requested at the March 8, 1994 meeting, that the issue of vendors and peddlers be placed on this agenda. A letter was received by City Council regarding illegal street vendors and peddlers prompting this item. The following is a chronology relating to this subject matter. In January, 1993, the County of Los Angeles amended Titles 7 and 8 of their Code to require certain businesses, including street vendors, to obtain business licenses and provides the regulation of such business and prohibited all itinerant food vending on public highways. According to County Documents, 'Peddler Business Licenses maybe issued ONLY to those who vend from Commercial Motor Vehicles and those who sell food or merchandise at Special Events," A commercial motor vehicle, such as a catering truck, is therefore allowed within the County of Los Angeles, provided that a Peddler Business License and a Public Health License are first obtained. All carts, trailers, temporary stands, and other similar vending devices are essentially banned by these amendments. Those vendors who wish to sell food or merchandise only at special events are allowed to do so, provided that they first obtain a Peddler Business License and (if necessary) a Public Health License. In February, 1993, a memorandum from the City Manager was directed to the City Council in order to advise of these changes and warn of a potential influx of roadside vendors within the City.. This potential influx was anticipated due to the fact that the City's regulations do not effectively prohibit roadside vending. According to representatives from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Chapter 11.38 of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code (Peddling on Highways) is not enforceable throughout the City. This determination was based on language within the ordinance which limits the enforcement of such measures to areas along "a public highway within any canyon or within any mountainous section of the City." All other locations along a public highway are then presumed to be acceptable for roadside vending. In April 1993, staff was directed to postpone October, 1993. This additional time period v population and complaints to the City. any action on this matter until September - as to allow for the monitoring of the vendor At the September 14, 1993 City Council meeting, an alternative was presented to Council to adopt the Los Angeles County Code amendments pertaining to peddlers. At the meeting, Council stated that they did not want to go as far as LA County and prohibit peddling altogether; but rather, they wanted stricter enforcement of illegal peddlers. During the last few months, the Finance Department has been comparing the current City code as adopted to the current County code and noted over a hundred changes relating to business licenses. In addition, a survey of various cities was conducted in order to gain a better insight into the licensing of peddlers and solicitors and what constitutes a legal peddler/solicitor. Staff is prepared to move forward and meet with the City Attorney and County representatives in order to make changes to the current City ordinance based on Council's direction. RECOMMENDATION Review staffs report and provide specific direction as to what action, if any, should be taken in relation to regulation of Peddlers and Solicitors..