Board approves first reading to shift street‑vending approvals to Community Development director

The Board introduced on first reading an ordinance (Bill 105) that would remove approval of downtown street vending and vendor carts from the Redevelopment Agency Citizens Committee and instead authorize the Community Development director to approve those carts. Planning staff said the change reflects a lack of incentive applications that require the citizens committee's review and would streamline downtown vendor cart approvals.

The Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended the code amendment by a 5–1 vote; staff told the Board the change would not alter the substantive standards for vendor activity but would shift ministerial approval authority to staff. After no public comment, the Board introduced the ordinance on first reading and unanimously supported the change.

Why it matters: The amendment shifts administrative responsibility for vendor cart approvals and would dissolve a committee role where few incentive requests exist, according to staff; it is primarily an administrative code cleanup with local business implications.

What’s next: The ordinance will proceed through subsequent readings and any required adoption steps.