Art and Food, Coming to a Sidewalk Near You

The City of Tacoma is poised to make big changes to sidewalk vending rules. A draft ordinance will be read at tonight's City Council meeting which would allow sidewalk vending of handmade arts and crafts throughout the city, and drastically simplify the rules for mobile food vendors within a pilot area downtown.

Under the proposed ordinance, any mobile vendor licensed by the city would be able to set up shop at Tollefson Plaza, (S 17th and Pacific) provided they give their neighbors a little breathing room and are prepared to disappear upon request during special events.

Until now, mobile food vending had only been permitted within 200 feet of a licensed food establishment, effectively limiting food vendors to setting up shop directly in front of a restaurant. (Which seems a bit redundant, no?) Hopefully the program will prove successful and food carts will be allowed throughout the city soon.

Text of the proposed ordinance: (first reading, changes may be made)
https://docs.google.com/View?id=dctzw63x_166d2zqj4gg

The ordinance will be read at tonight's city council meeting. I'll post an update when I have one.