Since the Project for Public Spaces workshop in May 2006, a small committee has been formualting recommendations, which will be presented to the EDC today:
- Reduce the insurance requirement (the current requirement for $500,000 is too high);
- Require vendors to demonstrate permission from the business owner (and property owner, if different) on whose sidewalk they would be vending--rather than having to secure permission from everyone within 100 feet, which may include as many as five separate parties;
- Rewrite requirements for the carts--current wording is confusing, even conflicting.
Committee members have also concluded that it will be helpful to review the requirements that the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department places on vendors--they need, at minimum, to be streamlined.
Great project.
ReplyDeleteLike many cities, Tacoma is finally figuring out that it is the "intensity of use" that beenfits a downtown. That is "the more the merrier."
Pike Place Market has hundreds of merchants right next to each other.
Require vendors to demonstrate permission from the business owner (and property owner, if different) on whose sidewalk they would be vending--rather than having to secure permission from everyone within 100 feet, which may include as many as five separate parties;
This is very destructive anti competitive rule which should be eliminated in its entirety.
No one benefits from having large dead zones in downtown. Street vendors add life to the city streets which benefits everyone.
The only rule left should be to not block sidewalks or entrances to businesses.
By the way, why is there an insurance requirement at all?
ReplyDeleteIs there an insurance requirement of the city for other businesses?
What is the insurance requirements for vendors, if any, in other cities.
Food carts would be great for Tacoma -- they're very successful and popular tools that have enlivened street life and culinary culture in Portland. And it wouldn't be hard to put Seattle to shame in this category...
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear this is moving along. I know how long you have been working on it.
ReplyDeleteI remember from the sidewalk vending taskforce, the biggest problem is the outragous insurance the city charges. Lower that and we may see more liveliness on the streets. Think PORTLAND.
ReplyDeleteRequiring vendors to have a permission to be in front of a business makes sense. To have permission from everyone with in 100 feet is a bit much.
ReplyDeleteBlackwater Coffee should have the right to not allow a coffee vendor outside their front door. A clothing store may want a book seller out front, but may not want smoke from a BBQ grill drifting in the store.