Street vendors, personal information for public comment brings comment
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula City Council
Published: August 20, 2008
Street vendors and information required for public comment brought comment of their own at the July 28 City Council meeting.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Street vendors and information required for public comment brought comment of their own at the July 28 City Council meeting.
Andrew Castaneda told the Council that he has concerns regarding street vendors. “The City of Oxnard, being a progressive city, has taken steps to do something about debris and trash” left in the wake of street pushcart food sales. Licensing is also an issue, said Castaneda, who noted that even having to address the issue to the Council is “an embarrassment.”
Getting more control of such street business would “greatly reduce” not only potential health hazards, but also “an eyesore.” Castaneda urged the Council to address the issue.
There are laws on the books governing such businesses, said Mayor Bob Gonzales, and some products sold do represent a “health issue.” “Unfortunately, there were some Council members in this city and in other municipalities who look the other way,” out of sympathy for street vendors as well as those landlords who warrant the attention of code enforcement. “The law’s the law,” said Gonzales.
Delton Lee Johnson asked the Council to “consider asking speakers to clearly state their name and address so all people here, including myself and others at home,” know where those addressing the Council live. Gonzales asked City Attorney Karl Berger to offer comment.
Berger noted that the Brown Act requires that any person addressing a public meeting submit their name and address. “That said, when people come and provide public comment,” such information is a matter of the meeting minutes. Although names and addresses are required on speaker cards used to call up those requesting to make public comment, giving the address verbally cannot be a condition of them speaking.
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