[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6473416,"mediaKeyId","5746372-806c7df2bc8e4f6e22642797b71ff699","parentId",5746372,"title","Produce-truck owners, residents urge Anaheim to stop ticketing and towing; ask for refunds and ordinance changes","audioSeconds",2227,"startMs",7267000,"endMs",9494000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5746372-806c7df2bc8e4f6e22642797b71ff699&start=7267&end=9494","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5746372-806c7df2bc8e4f6e22642797b71ff699/thumbnail_7267000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6473416/Anaheim/Orange-County/California/Produce-truck-owners-residents-urge-Anaheim-to-stop-ticketing-and-towing-ask-for-refunds-and-ordinance-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473416-d7e147a065dd3ea5b1bf3cfacab7fc4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409368&Signature=Osh~1D6P08qZAtzRY88QEh-TYSWMoKeO~2ojeVwah4gk9EVTnFY2ywxQpyPbmiXSNTgEW4mckGNnRKShmm9ToG~22K41toQ~8NUKBosjjXvSwcM08fJYlDdhdQYnJN-~76Wox1Hl7ADasHK2TSlb2WorHcc6p33EZxTwTZAYuYERHtEvrNKl6xG9~m05M29w23aWNQz1vbPXofV8dmKmr3fJp0EIG11NZtwZ3THcIinQINqwhgcvQOhxhoXAePdIPj0354WEw-SSOTei-97vgWkEnyGULI6JFlE3VvmbWs-XVbxhxlvTcV~OIRh3zoHju0MgN776LylJtTCWHF7x3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Anaheim, CA","date","2025-09-09T00:00:00Z","article","Several Anaheim produce‑truck vendors and community members told the City Council on Sept. 9 that recent ticketing and towing of produce trucks is hurting small businesses and the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Speakers said the vehicles pay multiple permits and registrations — a City of Anaheim business license, an Orange County health permit and a police registration that includes fingerprinting — and that many vendors have operated in Anaheim for decades. “I cannot continue with my business,” vendor Amar Verma (listed in public comment as Amar Verma/Vermejo) told the council. Verma said an officer had been issuing weekly $75 citations and that he paid $600 to retrieve a towed truck.

The concerns focused on a municipal parking ordinance adopted in 2018 that prohibits vehicles taller than 7 feet from parking on residential streets; speakers said that rule was long enforced against RVs, not produce vendors. Several commenters said the code has been enforced against trucks 10 feet high without prior warning and that some owners paid $500–$1,500 to recover trucks from impound. Mark Kerber, who identified himself with anaheimgrease.com, said two owners faced more than $1,500 each and others had $550 or $79 fines for a single night’s parking.

Public commenters asked the council to do three things: (1) rescind and refund tickets issued under this enforcement, (2) add a permanent exemption for permitted produce trucks to the code, and (3) suspend citywide enforcement while staff crafts a durable fix. A speaker who represents vendor organizers urged the city to add an exemption in the ordinance’s exemption list (quoted in public comment as starting at “14.32 0.206 0.03”) so that permitted produce trucks would not be subject to the height‑based parking rule.

No formal council vote on code changes or refunds appears on the record from tonight’s meeting. Multiple council members and speakers thanked organizers and city staff named in public comment (Norma, Kristen, Carlos and Mariana) for beginning conversations; council members said staff would be asked to review the issue. Several public speakers also attributed a short, temporary pause in enforcement in specific neighborhoods to city action, but that pause was reported by commenters and not recorded as a formal council motion at the meeting.

City staff and speakers highlighted practical details that would affect any fix: the trucks’ multiple permit requirements, background checks done at the police department, and the fact that some trucks serve neighborhoods with limited grocery access. Speakers asked that existing fines and towing charges paid by vulnerable small business owners be refunded and urged a citywide exemption rather than a neighborhood‑by‑neighborhood approach.

The discussion concluded with requests that staff return with options: administrative exemptions or an ordinance amendment that would exempt permitted produce trucks; a plan to refund unjustified towing/ticket fees; and a timeline for any temporary enforcement pauses. Councilmembers expressed urgency about finding an equitable solution that preserves public safety while protecting small businesses and food access.

Next steps: the council did not take a formal vote on code changes during the meeting. Public commenters asked the city to rescind individual tickets and refund towing fees; speakers said some owners had already paid hundreds to recover impounded trucks. Staff was asked to examine the municipal code exemption structure and report back to the council for possible ordinance amendments or administrative relief.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council\tSeptember 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several Anaheim produce‑truck vendors and community members told the City Council on Sept. 9 that recent ticketing and towing of produce trucks is hurting small businesses and the city’s most vulnerable residents.","taxTitle","Anaheim, Orange County, California","taxId",2922,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6473411,"Anaheim council approves technical zoning and land‑use amendments to finalize housing element and release state funds",661,11675000,12336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5746372-806c7df2bc8e4f6e22642797b71ff699&start=11675&end=12336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5746372-806c7df2bc8e4f6e22642797b71ff699/thumbnail_11675000.jpg","/articles/6473411/Anaheim/Orange-County/California/Anaheim-council-approves-technical-zoning-and-landuse-amendments-to-finalize-housing-element-and-release-state-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473411-20523ae584e18d831152fb86671d0bd9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409368&Signature=TQFLpyEULXZJA2vjsW4nRhExo8kA54RCUDofDnZ3-8Hyoy6LKKIlYILrZsW5FA-j1NL6RRpLWYgwjhZIaTuQyH5wE-Rv-25jo2WyBS1GzFzgcaUJkS818bVrKmveUxXwxnHlai30A4QTXR5UtiKAJwr6AJxK3F0q~UJd4CpXOe7dxnUC3suWiUHj9LkSFaCg-fv-ZVXEvNxVshp5zLJhyhyb~~-3XPZ4s30QZAUSvnSewjwEZlqb1ZTrsQGtoh04z8njGO7q8LZqkVP5yvKj54mJVXanPacPZG0-n9U~oKFt11Vytw7j3TMGdgdWOoreiad7qN4q0ezr66SEuY6FdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anaheim City Council on Sept. 9 approved technical amendments to the city’s General Plan and zoning code intended to satisfy questions from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and secure final certification of the city’s 6th‑cycle housing element.

Director Allen (planning staff) presented the measures to the council, describing four targeted clarifications requested by HCD. “Staff recommends city council approval [of] proposed clarifying technical zoning and general plan amendments in compliance with state law,” Director Allen said during the staff presentation.

The changes apply to housing element candidate sites when a proposed project sets aside at least 20% of units for lower‑income households. Key provisions adopted by the council include:

- Entitlement streamlining: qualifying affordable housing projects will be entitled to by‑right review (removing the need for discretionary planning‑commission review for the development entitlement stage, though subdivision maps remain subject to their separate process).

- Density floor: qualifying sites with a medium‑density or mixed‑use medium general plan designation will have a minimum of 20 dwelling units per acre with the existing 30 dwelling units per acre maximum unchanged.

- Mixed‑use composition: for mixed‑use projects on candidate sites, at least 50% of the total floor area must be residential when the project includes the qualifying share of affordable units.

Planner Kristine Nguyen, identified in the presentation as a senior planner and project manager for the housing element, joined Director Allen for the staff report. Planning Commission unanimously recommended the clarifying amendments on Aug. 11, staff said; HCD had earlier issued a letter (July 10) confirming the housing element was in “substantial compliance” but listing four technical clarifications that required city action to obtain final certification.

Councilmember Maaz moved the resolution and ordinance introduction; Councilmember Kurtz seconded. The council voted 6‑0 with one recorded absence (the transcript records the absence as “councillor Malone”). The motion approved a city resolution amending the General Plan Land Use Element (LU2) and introduced related zoning code amendments; staff said the changes satisfy the HCD items and facilitate housing‑element implementation. The staff presentation noted the city had already received approximately $6,000,000 in permanent local housing allocation funds tied to the housing element process, and that final certification clears the last administrative steps required by state housing law.

The council’s action included a CEQA determination: staff and the council referenced the State CEQA Guidelines exemption under section 15061(b)(3) in connection with the amendments staff described as technical and procedural. Councilmembers did not propose substantive changes to the city’s adopted housing objectives during the hearing; the recorded motion approved the clarifying technical amendments as presented.

Next steps: staff will update planning standards and public materials to reflect the clarifications and will proceed with implementation for qualifying affordable housing proposals on candidate sites.","The Anaheim City Council on Sept. 9 approved technical amendments to the city’s General Plan and zoning code intended to satisfy questions from the California Department of Housing and Community Development and secure final certification of the city’s 6th‑cycle housing element.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":80,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6473406,"Votes at a glance: Anaheim council adopts housing amendments, approves salary adjustments and makes League appointment",1082,11254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5746372-806c7df2bc8e4f6e22642797b71ff699&start=11254&end=12336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5746372-806c7df2bc8e4f6e22642797b71ff699/thumbnail_11254000.jpg","/articles/6473406/Anaheim/Orange-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Anaheim-council-adopts-housing-amendments-approves-salary-adjustments-and-makes-League-appointment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473406-23b26c7a666227896b6f9175820b6901/orig.mp4?Expires=1770409368&Signature=KlnbyicspDOP1xStqRbdgIy2srgvWubsa7EQdlALdbg~xrdRNLv6BjoIiYIzmhAlcdd6RjD-iPcGOR8cYzDahXaQ07s~70-9ITxlRLj3Ytg~iX0nErO2JW79Tz~4N5uCXv8sBLD3aG7q~xwVz-i0A852NHuJ~Cba8PtRl2HGpWrqhqn5Tc6QY7qX~x4Bf~MA44EhTZoz~INYHq2asdb~208-8t-zXIatph70YS1VGgOjWacmc-rP2SuLMlPWO~hbTueAcLVLSyvE44c3FcNZvOJ8WO2Kqp3C9-CDYhJBA8Zq1uE0hDe0XGpTY7HOBXV3vE1y84mpIHQx8qD~1LIeNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anaheim City Council on Sept. 9 recorded several unanimous approvals during consent and public‑hearing business. Key actions recorded in the meeting minutes include:

1) Housing element technical amendments (Item 13) — Approved
Motion: Councilmember Maaz moved, Councilmember Kurtz seconded. The council approved a resolution amending the General Plan Land Use Element (LU2) and introduced related zoning ordinance language to implement clarifying, technical changes requested by HCD. Vote: 6 ayes, 0 nays; recorded absence (transcript): Councillor Malone. Action: Resolution adopted and ordinance introduced to implement by‑right entitlements for qualifying affordable projects, a minimum density of 20 dwelling units per acre on qualifying sites and a 50% residential floor‑area requirement for qualifying mixed‑use projects. CEQA: staff cited State CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

2) Merit salary adjustments for city executives (Consent / Item 5) — Approved
Summary: Pursuant to Government Code section 54953, staff provided an oral summary before the vote. The consent item approved merit salary increases and other recommended adjustments for city‑appointed officials: a 3% salary adjustment for the City Clerk (annual salary stated in the record as $254,600); a lump‑sum payment of $11,022 for the City Attorney and an annual salary in the record of $367,439; and a vacation credit of 70 hours for the City Manager (effective 07/04/2025). Vote: recorded as 6 ayes, 0 nays with a recorded absence in the transcript (recorded as Councillor Leal for that vote).

3) Housing Authority consent calendar (Items 1 & 2 in joint session) — Approved
Motion: Motion by Councilmember Bayless; second recorded. Vote: 6 ayes, 0 nays; recorded absence by Councillor Leon (as noted in the meeting record for that vote).

4) Appointment of League of California Cities voting delegate and alternate (Item 12) — Approved
Action: Council appointed Councilmember Maaz as voting delegate and Councilmember Bayless as alternate to the League of California Cities annual conference. Vote: 6 ayes, 0 nays; recorded absence by Councillor Malone (as recorded in the transcript).

Procedural note: The meeting record contains multiple recorded absences with varying surname spellings in different vote calls (transcript entries record absences as \"Leon,\" \"Leal,\" and \"Malone\" in separate votes). The article lists each vote with the language shown in the official meeting transcript for that specific vote.

All motions above were recorded during the Sept. 9 meeting. Where the transcript gives dollar amounts, salary figures or statutory citations, this article reproduces those figures as they appear in the meeting record. If the council subsequently amends any of the introduced ordinances or directs staff to modify financial actions, those changes will appear in later agenda minutes and staff reports.","At its Sept. 9 meeting the Anaheim City Council approved technical housing amendments, adopted salary adjustments for top city executives, confirmed League of California Cities delegates and approved housing authority consent items. The meeting record shows unanimous votes on several items with one recorded absence on each tally as noted in the","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Produce-truck owners, residents urge Anaheim to stop ticketing and towing; ask for refunds and ordinance changes

Anaheim council approves technical zoning and land‑use amendments to finalize housing element and release state funds

Votes at a glance: Anaheim council adopts housing amendments, approves salary adjustments and makes League appointment