HUNTINGTON BEACH : City Plans Tougher Street Vending Rules

Mobile vendors may eventually face stiffer regulations when they peddle their goods on city streets under a plan approved by the City Council this week.

The council Monday directed staff to revise city codes by adding restrictions on food sales from trucks in residential neighborhoods.

Planning director Howard Zelefsky said a revised ordinance will likely be brought before the council in December or January.

Melanie Fallon, director of community development, said the issue of mobile vending in some neighborhoods is not new to the city, but added that the activity has increased in recent years.

Vendors have been selling fresh vegetables, fruits and other goods in the predominantly Latino neighborhood known as Oakview, between Slater and Warner avenues near Beach Boulevard.

Recently, vendors have expanded into neighborhoods north of Warner Avenue, as well as the area known as Utica-Florida west of Beach Boulevard, said Mike Adams, director of special projects.

Fallon said that some residents enjoy the convenience of this type of shopping. But she said some property owners and residents believe that the increased number of vendors has had negative effects on their quality of life and property values.

Lewis Shaver, who owns property in the Oakview neighborhood, contended that he has had difficulty renting his duplex because of the vendors’ presence. Shaver also said vendors often conduct business in one location longer than the 30 minutes allowed under current city codes.

“They have an obligation to be mobile vendors, but they have become stationary vendors,” Shaver said. “The point is that we have come up with these rules and regulations for the safety and welfare of others, but they have been ignored.”

Fallon said city staff has identified a number of ways to further regulate vendors, including limiting the hours of operation to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Vending is currently allowed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Other suggested revisions include prohibiting the delivery of goods to vendors in residential neighborhoods, limiting the number of vendors in each neighborhood, limiting areas where mobile food selling is allowed, and requiring an annual review of each permit by the zoning administrator before a business license is issued.

Councilman Ralph Bauer expressed concern about the cost of the proposed regulations and the time it will take the city to enforce them.