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Council keeps sidewalk‑vending permit fee at $38 after debate over enforcement costs
Summary
City Council voted 8-1 to keep the annual sidewalk vending permit fee at $38, with debate centering on enforcement costs, equity and whether the fee should vary by neighborhood; staff said the permit program has issued roughly 800 permits and enforcement is split among park rangers and SDPD.
San Diego City Council voted on July 16 to continue a $38 annual sidewalk‑vending permit fee intended to keep entry costs low for community vendors while formalizing enforcement and permitting procedures.
City Treasurer Liz Correa briefed the council on program administration, enforcement and costs. Since the program began, staff said roughly 800 permits have been issued and the city has collected about $46,406 in fees; staff estimated ongoing annual revenues under the $38 fee at roughly $20,600. Program administration and enforcement costs are borne across departments: the Parks and Recreation Department operates park/beach outreach and maintenance roles while the Police Department conducts outreach and enforcement in other districts. Correa said enforcement moved to sworn officers for some areas in fiscal year 2024 and that Parks and Recreation staff time devoted to the ordinance represents a portion of their broader duties.
Public commenters and councilmembers raised equity and cost concerns. Joyce Enyatta supported the $38 fee as equitable and urged SDPD to track enforcement expenditures; Councilmember Moreno dissented, saying the city’s roughly $2.5 million in program costs should be prioritized for other services and that the ordinance disproportionately affects low‑income communities. Councilmember Campbell and others argued the low fee keeps the program accessible and that many enforcement costs are shared among staff performing broader duties.
After debate, Councilmember Campbell moved to adopt staff’s recommendation to keep the $38 annual fee. The motion passed 8‑1, with Councilmember Moreno voting no. Staff said they will track enforcement-related staffing and continue outreach; the Parks and Recreation Department and Police Department are to refine workload and cost accounting as vacancies are filled and tasking is clarified.
Next steps: Staff will implement the fee continuation, publish enforcement and operational metrics as they become available and work with council offices on potential future refinements, including whether differential fees by area are feasible.
