ANAHEIM : City Extends Hold on Street Vending Permits

The city will issue no new permits for street vendors for at least six months. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend a moratorium on the issuance of new vendor/operator permits to June 30.

City officials said they need at least that much time to draft an ordinance designed to curb trash, noise, customer loitering and vendors staying in one location too long.

Susan Kocsis, a resident who spoke in favor of the extension, said: “These people do not obey the law. This is a big problem.”

She said that the city’s code enforcement department has been unresponsive to her continuing complaints.

The moratorium does not affect the approximately 150 licensed vendors who currently sell a variety of products including produce, groceries, cigarettes, clothing and furniture, from the back of parked trucks and vans, city officials said.

In September, the council enacted a 90-day moratorium. But after meeting with concerned residents and vendors, city staff said they needed more time to work on the continuing problems, said John W. Poole, city code enforcement manager.

In 1993, the 4th District Court of Appeal nullified a 1992 Anaheim ordinance that prohibited street vending in residential neighborhoods. The court said the vehicle code allows cities to regulate street vending but not to ban it.