Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Ch. 9.32 Mobile Vending from Vehicles

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 698, § 2, adopted Feb. 12, 2019, repealed the former Ch. 9.32, §§ 9.32.010—9.32.130, and enacted a new Ch. 9.32 as set out herein. The former Ch. 9.32 pertained to mobile vending and derived from Ord. No. 641, § 2, adopted Nov. 22, 2011.

The city finds that the vending of produce, prepared or prepackaged foods, goods, and/or wares from vehicles at semi-permanent locations on public streets or alleys and on private property may pose unsafe conditions and special dangers to the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide clear and concise regulations governing these types of vehicular mobile vending operations to prevent safety, traffic and health hazards, and to preserve the peace, safety and welfare of the city and its residents.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person or entity to act as a vendor or employee of a mobile vehicle vendor, within the city without having first obtained a mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

A. Number of Permits: A mobile vehicle vending permit shall be required for the operation of each vending vehicle regardless of ownership or management.

B. Term of Permit; Renewal: Any mobile vehicle vending permit or mobile vehicle vending employee permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall automatically expire one year from the date of issuance, unless an earlier expiration date is noted on the permit. The permit may be renewed by the chief of police subject to compliance with the standards established in this chapter and payment of all applicable fees.

C. Transferability: A mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit is not transferable to any other entity or person and is valid only as to the original applicant.

D. Exemptions: A mobile vehicle vending permit is not required for the following activities:

1. The sale of agricultural products on the site where the product is grown;

2. Catering for private parties held exclusively on private property and not open to the general public;

3. Permitted community events such as, but not limited to, farmer's markets, crafts fairs, street fairs, and other special events approved and designated by the city; and

4. Delivery activities of any establishment with a fixed place of business, which only delivers its products, services, or goods to a specified address in response to a customer request, order, or invoice previously placed through that fixed place of business.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

A. "Developed site" means a site that has gravel, paved concrete or asphalt parking surface and paved ingress and egress that meets city standards.

B. "Vending" means selling, offering for sale, or displaying or dispensing any food, beverages, goods, wares, or merchandise from any vending vehicle.

C. "Vending vehicle" means a mobile food facility, temporary food facility, catering truck, or other motorized conveyance upon which food, beverages, goods, wares, or merchandise is sold, offered for sale, or distributed on any public street, alley or private property.

D. "Vendor" means any individual or entity who sells and makes immediate delivery, or offers for sale and immediate delivery, any food, beverages, goods, wares, or merchandise from a vending vehicle, including employees of mobile vehicle vendors.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

Mobile vehicle vending and mobile vehicle vending employee permits shall be approved or denied by the chief of police, in compliance with this chapter.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

Applicants for a mobile vehicle vending permit under this chapter, and persons working as an employee of a mobile vehicle vendor shall file with the chief of police an application in writing on a form to be furnished by the city, which shall give the following information:

A. A copy of the applicant's and/or operator's, or employee's Government issued form of identification;

B. Name, address(es), and telephone number(s) of the applicant;

C. A statement of the type of food, beverages, or merchandise to be sold;

D. A copy of a current registration of vending vehicle;

E. Intended locations, days and hours of operation;

F. For vending on private property:

1. Letter of consent signed by the property owner or authorized representative;

2. A site plan, drawn to scale and with dimensions, indicating the location of all existing buildings, structures, driveways, parking spaces, traffic controls, and improvements and the location where the proposed vending activity will be located on site, and demonstrating that there will be adequate ingress and egress to the site and that the mobile vending activity will have adequate parking and not utilize parking otherwise required for any business located at the site;

G. A copy of current San Luis Obispo County health permit(s);

H. Proof of a current Arroyo Grande business license or application for business license;

I. Evidence of general liability and automobile liability insurance; and

J. Four color photographs showing different exterior views of the vending vehicle.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

Prior to the issuance of a mobile vehicle vending permit or mobile vehicle vending employee permit, the applicant shall cause to be filed with the city police department a LiveScan background check conducted by the California Department of Justice within the previous six months of application for a mobile vending permit. The city police department shall furnish each applicant with a LiveScan Request form for use at any LiveScan vendor location.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

At the time the application or renewal of a mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit is filed with the chief of police, the applicant shall pay a fee sufficient to cover the cost to the city of processing the application. The amount of the fee shall be set by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

A. Upon acceptance of a properly filed mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit application and receipt of an acceptable LiveScan report issued by the Department of Justice, the chief of police shall conduct a preliminary investigation to determine compliance with this chapter and shall make such determination within no more than thirty (30) days of acceptance to approve or deny the application. The chief of police shall provide the applicant with written notice of his or her decision to the address indicated in the application.

B. The chief of police may deny an application for a mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit if he or she makes any of the following findings:

1. The applicant has failed to pay the application permit fee.

2. The applicant has made one or more material misstatements in the application for a permit.

3. The applicant does not have a valid California driver's license, a city business license, current vehicle registration and/ or general liability and/or automobile liability insurance.

4. The applicant's vending operation is inconsistent with the standards, conditions and requirements of this chapter.

5. The applicant has been found in violation of this chapter at any time during the previous three-year period.

6. Within three years of the date of the application, the applicant has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction or pled nolo contendere to any misdemeanor or felony offense which relates directly to the operation of mobile vehicle vending or any felony offense involving the sale of a controlled substance specified in California Health and Safety Code sections 11054, 11055, 11056, 11057 or 11058, or at the time of application is on probation or parole for any offenses set forth in this section for an offense that was committed within three years of the date of the application.

C. If the application is denied, the reasons for disapproval shall be noted on the application, and the applicant shall be notified that his or her application is denied and that no permit will be issued. Notice shall be mailed to the applicant at the address shown on the application form.

D. If the chief of police approves the applicant's mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit, he or she shall endorse his or her approval on the application and shall, upon payment of the prescribed fee, deliver the mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit to the applicant.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

As a condition of issuance of a mobile vehicle vending permit, the vendor shall agree to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the city and its officials, employees and agents from and against any and all liability, damage and/or loss arising from activities by the vendor, its employees and agents.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

All vendors shall comply with the following standards, conditions and requirements:

A. Location:

1. Vending shall occur only on a private developed site zoned Gateway Mixed-Use, Fair Oaks Mixed-Use, Highway Mixed-Use, Industrial Mixed-Use, Office Mixed-Use, Public Facility, or locations consistent with Vehicle Code § 22455;

2. No vending shall occur within ten (10) feet of a fire hydrant, fire escape, building entrance, bus stop, loading zone, handicapped parking space or access ramp, or driveway. A greater distance or separation from other uses may be required, under the permit, in order to preserve line-of-sight, or for other safety reasons;

3. No vending shall occur within three hundred (300) feet of the grounds of any elementary or junior high school;

4. No vending shall occur within five hundred (500) feet of a freeway entrance or exit;

5. Vendors shall not stop in any single location for more than one and one-half hours in any twenty-four-hour period.

6. Vending at the Soto Sports Complex or any other city park, recreational facility, or sports complex is permitted only upon the prior written authorization from the Arroyo Grande Recreation and Maintenance Services Division.

B. Design and Operating Standards:

1. Condition/appearance of site:

a. The vendor shall maintain the area within which vending activities occur in a clean, safe and sanitary condition;

b. No tables, chairs, fences, shade structures, other site furniture, or any freestanding signs shall be permitted in conjunction with the vendors vending activities;

c. Should any site improvements be needed for ongoing vending operations, the vendor shall be required to apply for appropriate permits to ensure building and public safety and consistency with applicable building and zoning regulations;

d. The vendor shall not attach or use any water lines, electrical lines or gas lines during vending operation; and

e. Exterior storage or display of refuse, equipment, materials, goods, wares, or merchandise associated with the vendor is prohibited.

2. Condition/appearance of vending vehicle:

a. The vendor shall display, in plain view and at all times, current permits and licenses in or on their vending vehicle;

b. Any vending vehicle shall be clean and in good repair;

c. The vendor shall not discharge items from any vending vehicle onto the sidewalk, gutter, storm inlets, or streets; and

d. The width, length, and height of all vending vehicles and devices shall be subject to review as part of consideration of the mobile vending permit.

3. Hours of operation: Vending shall be conducted within the hours of 9:00 a.m. and not later than 9:00 p.m. All activities shall comply with the city's noise ordinance.

4. Lighting: The vendor shall provide adequate lighting to ensure customer safety. Lighting shall be directed downwards and away from public streets and adjacent properties.

5. Obstructions, hazards: No vendor shall obstruct vehicular traffic, bicycle traffic, sidewalk pedestrian traffic, or accessibility to vehicles parked adjacent to a curb, and shall not create public health or safety hazards.

6. Parking: Prior to issuance of the mobile vehicle vending permit, the city shall confirm that an acceptable area for customer parking exists, or shall specifically exempt the vendor from this requirement due to the nature and/or location of the use. If the vending will occur on private property the city shall determine that there will be adequate ingress and egress to the site, and that the mobile vending activity will have adequate parking and not utilize parking otherwise required for any business located on the site. Parking for the vendor shall be specified in compliance with the mobile vending permit. The vendor shall not indicate exclusive roadway parking or reserve any public parking area for the vendor's customer parking.

7. Exceptions: Exceptions to increase length of time for vending in a single location or daytime hours for special events are to be filed with the chief of police and considered on an individual basis.

8. Other applicable regulations: Each vendor shall comply at all times with all applicable federal, state, county, city and any other governmental requirements.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

A. A mobile vehicle vending or mobile vehicle vending employee permit issued under this chapter may be suspended or revoked by the chief of police for any of the following causes:

1. Fraud or misrepresentation in the course of vending;

2. Fraud or misrepresentation in the application for the mobile vending permit;

3. Vending in violation of this chapter; or

4. Vending in a manner that creates a public nuisance or constitutes a danger to the public.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

In the event that any applicant or permittee desires to appeal from any order, revocation or other ruling of the chief of police or any other official of the city, made under the provisions of this chapter, such applicant or any other person aggrieved shall have the right to appeal such action or decision to the city manager, or his or her designee, within fifteen (15) days after the notice of the action or decision has been mailed to the person's address as shown on the permit application. An appeal shall be taken by filing with the police department a written appeal statement setting forth the grounds for the appeal. The chief of police shall transmit the written statement to the city manager within ten (10) days of its filing and the city manager shall set a time and place for a hearing on appeal. A hearing shall be set not later than sixty (60) days from the date of filing of the applicant's written appeal statement with the police department. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given to the appellant in the same manner as provided for the mailing of notice of suspension or revocation. The decision of the city manager, or his or her designee, on the appeal shall be final and binding on all parties concerned.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)

Any person who violates a provision of this chapter is guilty of a separate offense for each day or part of a day during which the violation is committed, continued or permitted. Any person who violates any provision in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. No. 698, § 2, 2-12-2019)