West Hollywood : Catering Truck Law OKd

Catering trucks would be allowed to sell prepared food on West Hollywood’s commercial streets under an ordinance that won initial City Council approval Tuesday.

But the ordinance retains a ban on street sales of fruits and vegetables, a practice that officials say has risen markedly in the last year within the Russian immigrant community in the east end of the city.

The city had used a Los Angeles County law barring all street peddling before the council decided to re-examine its policy, particularly regarding sales of produce. But after studying street vending citywide, planners drafted an ordinance that permits the street sale only of prepared food from lunch trucks, and then only in commercial zones.

Planning Manager Anne Browning said city officials were reluctant to assume liability for any injuries resulting from the produce sales on public streets. Final action is expected at the council’s Feb. 3 meeting.