Sidewalk Vending Ordinance Addressed Both Sides at Every Step : The law as amended answers all legitimate concerns. A two-year pilot project will provide an opportunity to adjust the new regulations.

The sidewalk vending ordinance passed by the Los Angeles City Council last week has stirred the emotions of the community, resulting in angry confrontations, racial tensions and hostilities. It’s unfortunate that so few people have taken the time to read the ordinance.

Whether one is in favor of or opposed to sidewalk vending, the ordinance as amended begins to address all legitimate concerns. In preparing this ordinance for review by the City Council, the Public Works Committee, which I chair, was careful to include both supporters and detractors of sidewalk vending at every step in the process. The result is an ordinance that offers a manageable, two-year pilot program.

It will allow up to eight sidewalk vending districts to be formed in designated, commercially zoned areas in the city.

First, every proposed sidewalk vending district must have the support of 20% of both the residents and the business owners in every block of the proposed district.

Second, a community advisory committee will be named to determine specific requirements for sidewalk vendors within each vending district. Each council office will appoint representatives of businesses, residents and sidewalk vending advocates to the group. The Los Angeles Police Department and street-use inspectors have been asked to participate.

Third, once a petition for a sidewalk vending district is submitted to the Board of Public Works, it will go through a public hearing process that will include notification of all concerned parties located within and adjacent to the proposed district. The board will make a decision based on the public input it receives.

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It is important to remember that the ordinance applies only to stationary sidewalk vending, and taking place only in commercially zoned areas. In order to be a legal sidewalk vendor in a designated street-vending district, the applicant needs a business license and whatever additional permits are required (such as a health permit for the sale of food products), and the written permission of the adjacent business and the community advisory committee. In addition, the vendor must provide a trash receptacle and will be required to dispose of any trash left by customers.

A sidewalk vending trust fund will be set up and funded by the sidewalk vending permit fees to help offset the cost of administering the ordinance.

To encourage vendors to participate in the program, the City Council has voted for my motion that calls for the Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Building and Safety, representatives of the business community and sidewalk vendors, and the city attorney to meet and create a comprehensive enforcement strategy for illegal vending outside the eight proposed sidewalk vending districts.

The next two years will provide the city of Los Angeles with a workable solution to the existing sidewalk-vending situation. As the pilot project evolves, there may be a need to make adjustments. That is to be expected with any untried effort. However, we will be able to address the issues within a practical framework that provides for fairness and opportunity for all.

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Many cities have found effective ways to incorporate sidewalk vending into their economic fabrics. I believe it can work in Los Angeles. We need to let these next two years be an educational process of encouraging economic development at all levels.

Many business organizations supported this ordinance as Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg and I have amended it, because they recognize that it will only improve the current sidewalk vending environment we see around us every day.