HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Regulating Vending on Streets and Sidewalks {
ORDINANCE NO. 2849
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF
THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA BY ADDING NEW SECTIONS
NUMBERED 22.11 THROUGH 22.23 FOR THE PURPOSE OF
REGULATING VENDING ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS:
PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND, ESTABLISHING AN EF-
FECTIVE DATE
I
BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be
and is hereby amended by enacting new sections 22.11 through 22.23 as
follows:
"Sec. 22.11. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
It is found and declared that:
(1) The primary purpose of the public streets and sidewalks
is for use by vehicular and pedestrian traffic;
(2) Vending on the public streets and sidewalks promotes
the public interest by contributing to an active and
attractive pedestrian environment;
(3) Reasonable regulation of street and sidewalk vending is
necessary to protect the public health, safety and wel-
fare.
(4) The following regulations for street and sidewalk vending
are not intended to restrain speech but merely to regu-
late conduct which is commercial in nature.
Sec. 22.12. DEFINITIONS.
(1) "Stand" means any table, showcase, bench, rack, push-
cart, wagon vehicle or device used for displaying,
keeping and offering of articles for sale by a vendor.
(2) "Vendor" means any person engaged in selling, or offer-
ing for sale, of food, beverages, or other merchandise
from a stand, motor vehicle or from the vendors person,
on the public streets, alleys, parking lots, sidewalks,
thoroughfares, and ways.
Sec. 22. 13. LICENSE REQUIRED.
It shall be unlawful to sell, or offer for sale, any food,
beverage or merchandise on any street, sidewalk, alley, city
r ! Y
parking lot or other thoroughfare without first obtaining an annual
license therefore.
Sec. 22.14. APPLICATIONS.
The application for a vendor's license shall include:
(1) The name, home and business address of the applicant,
and the name and address of the owner, if other than
the applicant, of the vending business, stand or motor
vehicle to be used in the operation of the vending busi-
ness.
(2) A description of the type of food, beverage or mer-
chandise to be sold.
(3) A description of the proposed location or routes of the
vending business.
(4) A certificate of inspection by the city sanitarian.
(5) Proof of an insurance policy, issued by an insurance
company licensed to do business in the State of Iowa,
protecting the licensee and the city from all claims for
damages which may arise from operations under or in
connection with the license. Such insurance shall be an
"occurrence" policy and name as additional insureds the
city, its officers and employees, and shall not terminate
or be cancelled prior to the expiration date of the policy
or of the vendor's license without 30 day advance writ-
ten notice to the city.
Sec. 22. 15. ISSUANCE
Not later than 30 days after the filing of a completed applica-
tion for a vendor's license, the applicant shall be notified by the
city of the decision on the issuance or denial of the license. The
decision shall be made by the city manager or the manager's
designee.
The city manager shall consider the standards set forth in
State restaurant regulations, and state itinerant merchants regu-
lations. No license shall be issued by the city unless there is
proof that all required state licenses and permits have been ap-
plied for or obtained. In the event that two or more applications
for the same location are received; the earliest application, if
approved, shall be awarded the location if otherwise qualified and
acceptable.
If a license is denied, the applicant shall be provided with a
statement of the reasons therefore which reason shall be entered in
writing on the application. The applicant shall be entitled to a
hearing. A license issued is valid for a period of one year from
the date of issuance.
Sec. 22. 16. VENDING PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE
CITY.
The license provided for in Section 22. 13 may be issued in
the various commercial and industrial zoning districts of the city,
but, except for vendors of nothing more than ice-cream and similar
frozen desserts, not in the Hospital-Medical zoning district nor in
any other zoning district, as shown on the official zoning map of
the city.
Sec. 22. 17. HEALTH AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD
AND BEVERAGE VENDING.
Vendors of food and beverages shall comply with the inspec-
tion provisions and standards for restaurants.
(1) The equipment used in vending food and beverages shall
be inspected upon application for a license and receive a
certificate of inspection upon compliance with this sec-
tion.
(2) Each food and beverage vending business shall be in-
spected at least twice a year.
Sec. 22. 18. DISPLAY OF LICENSE.
All licenses shall be displayed at all times during the opera-
tion of the vending business.
Sec. 22. 19. RENEWAL.
All licenses are valid for the entire licensing period unless
revoked or suspended prior to expiration. An application to renew
a license shall be made not later than 60 days before the expira-
tion of the current license.
Sec. 22.20. DENIAL, SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION.
Any license may be denied, suspended or revoked after notice
and an opportunity for hearing for any of the following causes:
(1) Fraud or misrepresentation contained in the application
for the license.
(2) Fraud or misrepresentation made in the course of carry-
ing on the business of vending.
(3) Conduct of the licensed business in such manner as to
create a public nuisance, or constitute a danger to the
public health, safety, welfare or morals.
(4) Conduct which is contrary to the provisions of this
ordinance.
Sec. 22.21. FEE
A fee for the license and inspection shall be charged based
upon the direct and indirect costs of administration, inspection,
and enforcement as set by resolution of the City Council.
Sec. 22.22. STANDARDS FOR VENDING.
The following standards shall be observed by all vendors:
(1) The vending stand shall be of such a size and so placed
that it does not obstruct the orderly flow of pedestrian
and/or vehicular movement(s).
(2) The vending stand shall be placed so as not to obstruct
visibility at street intersections or to obstruct driveway
entrances.
(3) All vending stands shall provide a litter receptacle which
is available for the vendor's patron's use.
(4) All vending stands shall be attended at all times and
removed during hours of nonoperation.
(5) Upon removal of the stand, all litter and trash shall be
picked up.
(6) Vending items shall be only those stated in the applica-
tion.
(7) The vending stand shall be placed so as not to obstruct
the view of merchandising displays of other businesses
abutting the sidewalk.
(8) All vending from motor vehicles shall be conducted in
such a way as not to restrict or interfere with the
ingress or egress of the abutting property, create a
public nuisance, increase traffic congestion or delay,
constitute a hazard to traffic, life, or property, or be
an obstruction to adequate access to fire, police, or
sanitation vehicles.
• • ' IMP"
Sec. 22.23. EXCEPTIONS.
This ordinance shall not be applied to the following:
(1) Organized business districts' promotionals
(2) Farmers' Market
(3) Civic and service club activities
(4) Home deliveries of food and merchandise deliveries in
residential zoning districts."
Section Two. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith
are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict, if any.
Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from
and after its passage and publication as required by law.
Section Four. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall be
punishable as a simple misdemeanor by a fine not to exceed one hundred
dollars ($100) or by imprisonment for up to thirty (30) days.
Adopted this 7th day of June 1983.
Nan -GibJ6 ns, City Clerk Pa
oodland, Mayor