Title
Ordinance No. 17-47 amending Part 7 (Peddlers of Food Wares) of Article 3 (Sales of Goods and Services) of Chapter 2 (Business Licensing, Liquor Regulation and Taxation) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to Mobile Food Vendors and providing penalties for the violation thereof
Presenter:
Sarah B. Johnson, City Clerk
Lee McRae, License Enforcement Officer
Body
Summary:
This ordinance to amend the existing “Peddler of Food Wares” License Code is based on input and discussion with several stakeholder meetings and staff recommendations for updating some archaic language. In addition to renaming the license type to “Mobile Food Vendors,” and minor definition clarifications, the proposed changes also allow flexibility for limited use of hooded parking meters for special uses as proposed in a companion ordinance amending Chapter 10 (Parking).
Previous Council Action:
Ordinances to amend various portions of the General Business License Code were passed by City Council in November of 2014.
Background:
As part of an ongoing effort to make the City of Colorado Springs a more business friendly community, and as one of the City Clerk’s 2014 Breakthrough Strategies, the City Clerk conducted a thorough review of general business license (“general business license”) types, requirements and fees to ensure they are relevant and necessary to regulate activities related to health, safety or other protective purposes. This review resulted in several ordinances passed by City Council in November of 2014 to amend various portions of the General Business License Code for removal/clarification of requirements for standardization across all general business license types. These updates to our City Code enhanced City services by eliminating unnecessary steps for a business to operate in our great city, while also aiding the future creation of an online application/renewal business licensing system. Noted at the time was a desire to continue with ongoing efforts to update specific license types, which includes the “Peddler of Food Wares” license type.
The current City Code (both the licensing and parking sections) prohibits “Peddler of Food Wares” licensees from occupying metered parking spaces to conduct business. In late 2016, the City and the Downtown Partnership, along with City Councilmember Jill Gaebler, began discussions with various stakeholders regarding requests and proposals for allowing a mobile food vendor to occupy metered parking spaces for special (limited) uses. The discussions on changing the parking meter prohibition also afforded a prime opportunity to also update the peddler license code. These discussions also included the then City Code Chapter 2 Council liaisons, former Councilmembers Collins and Bagley.
Financial Implications:
N/A
Board/Commission Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
Various stakeholder meetings and discussions occurred over a six to eight month period, including a general public meeting on March 9, 2017, where planning staff presented the ideas and answered questions from over forty (40) attendees comprising of food truck owners, food cart owners, shop/restaurant owners, media representatives, health department representatives, and the general public.
Alternatives:
N/A
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Approve the ordinance to amend and rename the Peddler of Food Wares License Code.
Summary of Ordinance Language
Amend the existing “Peddler of Food Wares” License Code to rename the “Peddler of Food Wares” license type to “Mobile Food Vendors,” update some archaic language and minor definition clarifications, and allow flexibility for limited use of hooded parking meters for special uses as proposed in the accompanying ordinance amending Chapter 10 (Parking).