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Committee backs continuation of pop-up vendor enforcement pilot after citations curb weekend vendors
Summary
Code compliance reported that a targeted Saturday enforcement pilot generated over a dozen citations early in the campaign, costing under $6,000; the committee agreed to forward the continuation to council and requested a follow-up review.
Garland code compliance told the Community Services Committee that a targeted pilot to address pop-up merchandise vendors on private property reduced visible weekend vending after an early round of citations and targeted patrols. Staff proposed limited holiday enforcement continuing under the pilot and asked for committee support to forward the continuation to council.
The director of code compliance summarized the program: inspectors and officers staffed two-person shifts from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays; enforcement targeted vendors under section 31-56(a); early weekends produced “12 plus citations” and several repeat violators; and the pilot cost was “relatively inexpensive, I think south of $6,000 to operate” over the course of the program. Staff reported no enforcement actions in the most recent four weeks of the pilot.
Committee members asked whether the pilot covered nighttime vendors. Staff confirmed evening patrols were included and said the program intentionally ran shifts until 8 p.m. Health department staff reported they had pursued unsafe food vendors in some locations and explained that Dallas County issues mobile-vendor permits for food trucks and mobile operations, which constrains Garland’s direct permitting authority.
The committee voted to forward the continuation of the pilot to council with the recommended holidays and asked staff to provide a follow-up check-in (roughly six months) after council action. Staff also said they would continue targeted enforcement at specific locations reported by residents.
