Glendale council sends proposed transient-food vendor rules back to staff for clarification

The City of Glendale Common Council discussed proposed changes to section 7.4.7 of the city code on transient merchant food establishments and voted to send the draft back to staff for further clarification.

City administrators told the council the primary substantive change in the draft is a new permit requirement for transient food merchants operating at a retail establishment. “The only change that was really made that's any substitute substance was to require a permit from those that would operate a transient food merchant, at a retail establishment,” the city administrator said.

The revision grew out of recent confusion after a transient food vendor operated in the city and staff reviewed the existing code. Council members and public commenters asked whether the draft would allow food trucks to serve at private events, block parties or when parked on private driveways. Resident Robert Cromwell asked for clarification: “I just wanted some clarification. So I'm still allowed to hire a private caterer to cater an event at my home, but I couldn't hire a food truck to come cater an event to my home. Is that does that sound right?”

City staff and City Attorney Nathan Baer said private-property events are distinguishable from food trucks using city rights-of-way. Baer noted vendors may be invited onto private property for events such as church or school farmers’ markets: “You can have them come on to your private property, invite them on, and have them as part of the part of the event.” Staff said the draft as written would prohibit vendors from serving on public streets or rights-of-way unless the site is a city-sponsored event on city property.

Council members discussed adding explicit carve-outs or administrative processes that would allow approved street-use permits (including neighborhood block parties) and specific rules for private-property events, and debated whether to add time or noise restrictions where vendors operate close to residences. One alderperson suggested including “including but not limited to approved street use permits” in the special-events clause so that neighborhood block parties authorized through the city’s street-use process would clearly be allowed.

After discussion, Alderman Shaw moved to refer the matter back to staff to incorporate the clarifications discussed and draft specific language for private-property events and approved street-use permits. The motion was seconded by Alderman Dougherty and carried by voice vote.

Staff said they would return a revised draft at a future meeting with proposed language on approved street use permits, explicit private-property guidance and other clarifications requested by the council.