The City Council legal and legislative committee on Tuesday examined a resolution to expand no sidewalk vending zones to apply to all “through streets” in the city.
A divided council put the issue on the agenda for Tuesday, April 20, when council members will bring a list of streets within each district to consider making no vending zones.
The council recently passed an ordinance banning street vendors from the Riverfront.
Councilwoman Marti Rutherford proposed the resolution prior to Tuesday’s meeting. She said, “When we allow people to have vending stands, they are not paying sales taxes and they are competing with businesses that have overhead. It is not only a safety issue, but a business issue.” She said venders are a distraction for vehicular traffic.
Councilman Leamon Pierce said, “It is ridiculous to do something like this. This has been happening for a hundred years.”
He said he would not submit any roads in his district to be no vending zones.
City Attorney Randy Nelson cautioned, “Any time you cut down places for political and commercial speech, you may be throwing the baby out with the bath water. Streets are historically a place for the expression of ideas. It could seem somewhat suspect.”
Councilman Jack Benson said he was concerned that sidewalk vending is a safety issue. However, he said to make all through streets no vending zones is too broad.