Fullerton City Council voted unanimously at their September 15 meeting to approve an ordinance that allows and regulates sidewalk vendors in the City, to bring Fullerton into compliance with Senate Bill 946, the intent of which is to increase economic opportunities to low-income and immigrant communities, increase access to culturally significant food and merchandise, and contribute to safe and dynamic public spaces.
Prior to this, sidewalk vendors were not permitted in Fullerton unless it was for a specific city event.
Under the new ordinance, the annual fee for a sidewalk vending permit is $80 per cart. Vendors are also required to pay for a Live Scan fee (fingerprinted background check, currently $22), applicable business registration fees (up to $68), and obtain $1 million in liability insurance. A staff report states that insurance premiums for this “typically range from $299 to $2,500 per year.”
Councilmember Ahmad Zahra expressed concern that these fees and expenses, particularly the insurance requirement, would make the street vendor permits unaffordable to the very people the State law aims to assist.
“It seems that maybe this is an issue the State overlooked,” Zahra said. “It seems like the spirit of the law is to try to help vendors, especially lower income vendors, like an ice cream guy, but then suddenly all these costs are coming up that they can’t afford. So even if we are allowing this, and say, ‘Hey you guys can operate legally,’ they’re not going to conform to any of these requirements because they just can’t afford it.”
According to Public Works director Meg McWade and City Attorney Richard Jones, this liability insurance is to protect the City from lawsuits.
Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald defended the insurance requirement, stating, “We live in a litigious state, and it’s expensive to run any kind of business here…So either the taxpayers are going to pay if someone slips and falls, or the person whose fault it is will pay.”
Zahra also questioned the Livescan (fingerprint ID) requirement, which is not required of other business owners in the City.
“Because we’re permitting these people to operate in very close proximity to our schools and out on our public streets, it’s just a verification that we don’t have somebody that we don’t want on our streets,” McWade said.
One public commenter asked how the new regulations would be enforced, and McWade said they would be enforced by a combination of police and code enforcement.
Jane Reifer, another public commenter, suggested that the City contact the Small Business Administration (SBA) to see if there is a program or opportunity that could enable very low-income entrepreneurs to have access to insurance money to get started.
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Categories: Local News
I don’t live in the city of Fullerton (I live in Placentia) but every time I get off the 57fwy I see these vendor carts. They look janky (not to mention unsanitary) and overall take away from the look/value of the community. I don’t buy the reasoning that they are trying to “increase access to culturally significant food & merchandise”. All the vendors I’ve seen are offering Mexican food. There are an abundance of Mexican food restaurants in S. CA and certainly in Fullerton, Placentia, Yorba Linda, etc… I’m Mexican and I see this for myself in my community and the neighboring communities as well. The fees don’t seem feasible for these vendors and in all likelihood are not being paid. And the city has not truly answered how or when these vendors are being checked or regulated. Just another bill that was not thought out to the long-term determent of the community at large. Bad move Fullerton!
Are do we know if they are owned by individuals? I have read that some owners have many stands and pay their workers very little money.
I have also heard that these carts are owned by one person who hires others and pays them very little and under the table. This is a huge problem in Los Angeles and these people end up working long hours, sometimes with minors. Food storage is also a concern in that they cannot properly maintain temperatures over long periods of time and how is the health department inspecting?
I’m all for giving everyone an opportunity to earn a living, but it not fair to the public or to other merchants who have to pay rent, taxes, fees, etc.
It’s only a matter of time before someone is hurt, taken ill, accidents or other disruptions occur. In addition I don’t want a street vendor in front of my home or soliciting my children. This may be acceptable at a sporting event, fair or park event, but not for tradition retail hours or on public streets.
Also who is maintain the look, safety and insuring consistent and proper maintenance of these units. Also how do they wash their hands, take breaks, etc. Fullerton needs more retail, small locally owned store fronts and when COVID-19 is over events, concerts and activities that attract the public.
Vendors need to have liability insurance and the LiveScan requirement might be good since some of them set up out right outside of our schools. If someone get food poisoning from a random street cart, what is their recourse?
Not affordable but then that is the same expected of every business owner in Fullerton who, in addition, pays rent to a building owner for the business space. These vendors may be taking business away from a “brick and mortar” store and that business also collects and pays sales tax and property tax and tax on profits and, gosh it isn’t easy being an entrepreneur.