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City planner proposes ordinance to broaden definition of mobile vendors beyond food
Summary
City planner Joel Plasone introduced Ordinance 4958 to remove the word "food" from mobile/vendor sections of code so non-food mobile businesses (books, crafts) can operate legally; staff indicated event licenses already exist for occasional vendors and will return for first reading.
City planner Joel Plasone told the Lewiston City Council on March 2 that staff drafted Ordinance 4958 to expand the municipal code’s definitions of mobile and temporary vendors.
Plasone said current code language addresses only food and drink vendors and does not recognize mobile businesses that sell non-food goods. The proposed amendments would revise chapter 21 (definitions and sections 21-66, 21-69), article 11, and section 31-74 so that the term “food” is removed where appropriate and mobile vendors selling items such as books or crafts are explicitly permitted under clear rules.
Councilors asked whether a business license would replace a temporary-vendor permit; staff said the city maintains an event license option for occasional vendors and that the proposed code change is intended to broaden the covered vendor types rather than eliminate event licensing.
Planner Plasone and staff said they intend to bring the ordinance forward for a first reading and public hearing in an upcoming meeting; council members offered general support and asked staff to return with the redlined ordinance for first reading.
