Council asks staff to study hawkers and peddlers licensing and reentry supports

Councilors discussed opening a staff review of the city’s hawkers and peddlers licensing process and whether the city could create a pathway for people with criminal records — particularly those in reentry programs — to obtain hawker permits after meeting conditions such as training or letters of recommendation.

Councilor Robinson introduced the discussion and said she had spoken with local reentry programs that provide culinary and ServSafe training and asked whether licensing policy could allow the police chief to consider evidence of rehabilitation rather than applying automatic denials based on older convictions.

Councilor Goodyear asked the manager for data about how many hawkers licenses the city issues annually. The city manager said staff did not have the exact number at the meeting and agreed to collect three‑year counts and return with a recommendation. The manager said police have broad authority in the licensing process and suggested staff could discuss whether letters of recommendation, program completion certificates or other documentation could be provided to the chief to inform discretionary decisions.

Police protocol was discussed in general terms; the meeting transcript records that staff suggested the chief could consider letters from reentry programs or other documentation as factors when making case‑by‑case determinations. The council did not adopt an ordinance or motion to change policy but directed the manager’s office to return with data and options for a potential pilot program that would balance public safety review and reentry opportunities.

Next steps: city staff will gather hawkers and peddlers licensing counts for recent years, consult with the police chief about discretionary criteria, and return to council with recommended next steps and potential pilot program parameters.