Council pauses fee change for sidewalk vendor permits after public opposition; will rework ordinance

Councilors heard public comment and staff presentations about the city's sidewalk vendor permit process and proposed fee changes, then directed staff to return with ordinance amendments and a broader public discussion rather than immediately adopting a modified fee schedule.

The nut graf: Staff proposed eliminating the per-square-foot fee established by a 2019 resolution and replacing it with a one-time $100 application fee and a $20 annual renewal to cover staff time; business owners and others spoke against the original $2.50-per-square-foot fee and some councilors recommended a more inclusive public process before enacting change.

City staff explained the resolution from October 2019 set a $2.50 per-square-foot rate; implementation was delayed by the pandemic and staffing turnover. Staff recommended a one-time $100 application fee and a $20 annual renewal fee to cover investigation and processing, with no per-square-foot charge. Multiple downtown business owners responded that the square-foot fee would be burdensome and that similar uses (for example, temporary items such as basketball hoops or a lemonade stand) raised concerns about enforcement and equity.

During debate councilors asked whether the permit program had been enforced since 2019; staff said invoices were not issued until recently and that follow-up had generated community feedback. One councilor who had supported the original ordinance said the revised flat fee was more reasonable but supported further public discussion. The item concluded with direction to bring the ordinance itself back for council consideration in a work session so that residents and businesses could be included in any proposed changes.

Ending: Staff will schedule a work session and return with ordinance amendments and options for fee structure and enforcement; no fee change was adopted at the meeting.