Arias proposes to ban weekend sidewalk vendors in this Fresno area

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias is trying to prohibition play vendors successful the Tower District.

While helium recognizes the vendors "contribute to our system and vicinity culture," helium says their beingness is creating "safety concerns."

Among the concerns: an summation successful late-night calls for work (including gang-related calls), unfastened intoxicant consumption, and continued unpermitted vending.

To code the issue, Arias is going to suggest 2 amendments during the Oct. 16 metropolis assembly meeting:

1. Prohibit sidewalk vending from Friday done Sunday betwixt 6 p.m. and 3 a.m.
2. Increase fines citywide for unpermitted sidewalk vending of nutrient cooked on-site utilizing barbecues, grills, oregon different heated surfaces requiring a substance source.

Arias says the metropolis assembly has taken actions to make opportunities for sidewalk vendors to run legitimately, including establishing the Local Mobile Food Vendor Association Committee and allocating implicit $1.2 cardinal to assistance section vendors get the due permits, licenses, information cameras and compliant equipment.

The efforts led to the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance, which passed with a 5-2 ballot successful December of past twelvemonth but sparked contention from assemblage members.

If approved, the updates to the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance volition instrumentality afloat effect connected Dec. 1.