Council updates vending ordinance to align with state law, waives first reading

Mayor Moran presided as the council considered revisions to the city27s ordinance regulating sidewalk vending, with the city attorney27s office explaining the changes needed to comply with recent California law. The city attorney said state law now prevents cities from criminalizing sidewalk vending and from requiring criminal-history background checks to obtain vending permits, so the proposed amendments remove those provisions and replace the older "itinerant vendor" language with "sidewalk vendor" and definitions that cover push carts and other nonmotorized vending.

The city attorney said the draft ordinance also clarifies the permit application process, allows staff to set a processing fee sufficient to cover staff time, and includes a statutory requirement to provide a fee waiver or reduced fee for applicants demonstrating financial hardship. The city attorney noted the changes would not affect motorized food trucks.

Councilmembers asked staff for clarification about the remaining fee details and administrative process; no public commenters spoke on the item. Mayor Pro Tem Samra moved to waive the first reading and schedule a second reading for adoption; Council member Roth seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

The council27s action was procedural: it waived the first reading and directed that the ordinance return for a second reading with the fee schedule and final application form for council review. The council did not adopt the ordinance outright at the meeting; the second-reading hearing will determine final adoption and any remaining fee or implementation specifics.