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Downtown merchants urge city to limit private vendor markets after planned Main Street closure
Summary
Downtown retailers told the Santa Paula City Council that a proposed private vendor market set for Dec. 13 that would close Main Street between 8th and Davis threatens holiday sales and city tax receipts; staff said the permit has not been approved and recommended writing clear guidelines on frequency, timing and locations.
Santa Paula — Small-business owners told the City Council on Nov. 5 they oppose a proposed private vendor market that would close Main Street during a key holiday shopping weekend, saying it undercuts brick-and-mortar stores and the city’s sales-tax base.
Donna McClure, owner of Lilyfields Vintage on Main Street, said the event advertised for Dec. 13 would shut down the street “the entire business day” and asked the council to relocate it or limit how often street-closing events are permitted. “When we have street closures and pop-up markets, our businesses suffer,” McClure said.
Tracy Hannah, owner of Santa Paula Trading Company and representing downtown merchants, told council members that social-media ads claim “over 50 vendors” and food trucks would close Main Street between 8th and Davis, and that many sidewalk vendors do not appear to collect sales tax. “Every sale that happens outside our store and is not collecting sales tax is hurting not only our small businesses, but also the city,” Hannah said.
City staff responded that the vendor application under review is sponsored by a local nonprofit sports entity and has not yet been approved. Staff advised that current municipal permit standards allow denial for public-safety or resource concerns but provide limited grounds to deny an application when it otherwise meets ordinance requirements. Staff recommended the Council consider developing clearer guidelines on frequency, timing and locations for street closures and suggested putting the issue on the economic-development committee agenda or a future study session.
Councilmember Crosswhite and the mayor said staff will follow up quickly; a meeting of the economic development committee was noted as scheduled for Nov. 11. The city did not make a permit decision at the meeting.
What’s next: Council members asked staff to return with options for guidelines that could limit holiday street closures or require additional conditions and to share those options with downtown business representatives.
