HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - February 18, 2015 C-12AGENDA ITEM cap/2
CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE: Adopt Resolution Waiving Business License Requirement for Parks, Recreation
and Cultural Services Special Events
MEETING DATE: February 18, 2015
PREPARED BY: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt resolution waiving the business license requirements for Parks,
Recreation and Cultural Services special events.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: One of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department's
goals is to offer more free and low-cost events to foster a sense of
community among Lodi residents. This includes music in the park
and family movie nights at Hutchins Street Square in 2015.
The Department also has an opportunity to provide a farmers market at Salas Park and a monthly event
(likely Sunday evenings) in which mobile food vendors gather in the south parking lot of Hutchins Street
Square. The farmers market would be operated by the San Joaquin Certified Farmers Market, which
operates similar markets in Stockton, Tracy, Lathrop and Mountain House, on Sunday mornings from 8
a.m. to 1 p.m. The mobile food event would be coordinated by the Sacramento Mobile Food Events,
which operates "Food Truck Mania" events in Sacramento, Woodland, Elk Grove, Rocklin, Lincoln and
Roseville and at other special events.
Staff has researched the business license requirements for these events in other communities. While the
event organizer is required to obtain a business license, requirements for their vendors vary, as they
often operate under the umbrella of the organizing business and are still required to comply with various
health, safety and fire codes. For vendors who typically operate in Sacramento County, the cost of
obtaining a business license on top of inspection and fuel expenses is the difference between
participating and not.
Lodi Municipal Code Section 3.01.030(H) allows the City Council to waive the business license
requirement for street fairs and special events when the waiver is for a limited period of time, if the
participant does not otherwise conduct business within the city and when a blanket waiver for a street fair
or special event is in the best interest of the city. The City does not require produce vendors at the
Thursday evening downtown farmers market to obtain business licenses.
Staff asks that the City Council to waive the business license requirement for vendors at PRCS events.
Another event that could benefit from the exemption would be the Fourth of July at the Lake, with more
potential vendors willing to consider setting up at the park. PRCS also found that out-of-town vendors
would not participate in a two-day holiday boutique at Hutchins Street Square because of the business
APPROVED:
Stephbymala6uer, City Manager
Adopt Resolution Waiving Business License Requirement for Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Special Events
February 18, 2015
Page 2
license requirement. In the case of the proposed farmers market and mobile food truck event, the
organizers of these events will be required to obtain a City business license and meet the risk manager's
insurance requirements.
Waiving the requirement for occasional events will allow the Department to move forward with family
friendly, low-cost or free events that the whole community can enjoy, which is in the best interest of the
city. In the meantime, staff will notify those vendors who conduct business frequently in the city that they
are required to obtain a business license.
Staff further requests that Council delegate authority to the PRCS director to issue a permit to vendors
operating on the public right-of-way pursuant to 10.44.080(8), "Unlawful parking — Peddlers, vendors" as
long as the vendors are part of a PRCS event that is fully contained within park property.
The Council does not need to find an additional exemption under the mobile food vendor ordinance for
PRCS events. Chapter 9.18 of the Lodi Municipal Code "Vending on Streets, Sidewalks and Private
Property" allows exemptions to the permit requirements for special events authorized by the City.
FISCAL IMPACT: Negligible. These events will not occur without the waiver. Indirect benefits
may occur from attracting people from outside the City to these events.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable
Jordan Ayers, Deputy City Managefllnternal Services Director
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ks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director
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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-19
A RESOLUTION WAIVING BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIREMENT FOR
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES SPECIAL EVENTS
AND AUTHORIZING THE PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL
SERVICES DIRECTOR TO ISSUE PERMITS TO VENDORS
OPERATING ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
WHEREAS, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department wishes to expand
the number of community events to benefit Lodi residents; and
WHEREAS, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department finds that the
business license tax requirement under the Lodi Municipal Code is an obstacle to attracting
vendors that will enhance community events.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby waive
the business license tax requirement for vendors at Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
events pursuant to the Lodi Municipal Code Section 3.01.030(H), which permits the City Council
to waive the business license tax for participants in special events when the waiver is for a
limited period of time and in the best interest of the City; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council delegates authority to the
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director to issue a permit to vendors operating on the
public right-of-way within park boundaries pursuant to Lodi Municipal Code Section
10.44.080(B), "Unlawful Parking — Peddlers, Vendors."
Dated: February 18, 2015
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I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2015-19 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City
Council in a regular meeting held February 18, 2015, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Chandler, Kuehne, Mounce, Nakanishi, and
Mayor Johnson
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
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NNIFER FERRAIOLO
pity Clerk
2015-19