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Council adopts sidewalk‑vending code changes to comply with new state law, removes criminal‑history requirements
Summary
Vista amended Municipal Code Chapter 8.78 to conform with Senate Bill 635 by removing criminal‑history disclosure and live‑scan fingerprinting from the sidewalk‑vending application process; council and staff discussed outreach and vendor assistance materials.
The Vista City Council adopted changes to Municipal Code Chapter 8.78 to align the city’s sidewalk‑vending rules with recent state legislation (SB 635), removing local requirements that had asked for criminal‑history disclosure, live‑scan fingerprinting and permit denial or suspension criteria tied to criminal history.
Josh Sinocruz, assistant to the city manager, explained the 2018 state law that first established statewide standards for sidewalk vending and said the new state changes that took effect on Jan. 1, 2026, limit what localities can require for vending applications. Staff recommended removing inoperative criminal‑history provisions so the city’s code is consistent with state law.
Council members asked which business license categories still require live‑scan or background checks; staff said ice‑cream trucks, certain cannabis vendor categories and massage businesses remain subject to those checks. Councilmember Contreras proposed and staff agreed to develop an easy step‑by‑step handout and to host bilingual workshops in English and Spanish to help vendors navigate the permitting process.
Contreras moved to close the hearing and adopt the ordinance amending Chapter 8.78; Deputy Mayor O'Donnell seconded. The council approved the update with four votes in favor and one opposed (Mayor Franklin). Council and staff noted the city’s severability clause already renders superseded code inoperative but said the cleanup will help the public understand the current permit requirements.
