CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
Study Session
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
3:00 PM
City Council Chambers
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
MAYOR
Rita Lamb
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mayor Pro Tem
Mark Carnevale
Councilmember
Nancy Ross
Councilmember
Raymond Gregory
Councilmember
Ernesto Gutierrez
• CALL TO ORDER
• ROLL CALL
• AGENDA FINALIZATION
At this time the City Council may announce any items being pulled from the agenda or continued to another date.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the opportunity for members of the public to comment on any items not appearing on the regular agenda. Because of restrictions contained in California Law, the City Council may not discuss or act on any item not on the agenda but may briefly respond to statements made or ask a question for clarification. The Mayor may also request a brief response from staff to questions raised during public comment or may request a matter be agendized for a future meeting. Public Comment will be limited to three (3) minutes.
2. STUDY SESSION
Normally no action is taken on Study Session items, however, the City Council reserves the right to give specific policy direction and take specific action as Cathedral City P a g e 2
necessary. Presentation will be limited to 10 minutes unless other provisions are made in advance.
A. Presentation on Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Annexation Process
Recommendation: This is a presentation only. There is no formal action required.
B. Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance Update
Recommendation: This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
3. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of Matters: One (1)
B. THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES
Pursuant to Government Code section 54957
Consultation with: Fire Chief and Police Chief
ADJOURN
NOTES TO THE PUBLIC:
The City of Cathedral City complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you require special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 770-0322 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
If you desire to address the City Council during the meeting, please complete a Request to Speak Form available at the entrance and present it to the City Clerk. Speakers will be called upon at the appropriate time.
Any documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s office at City Hall located at 68 -700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero during normal business hours. In addition, such documents will be posted on the City’s website at www.cathedralcity.gov.
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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.A
Meeting Date: September 13, 2023
From: Tracey Hermosillo, City Clerk
Title: Presentation on Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Annexation Process
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a presentation only. There is no formal action required.
BACKGROUND:
Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) are state -mandated regulatory agencies established by the Legislature in 1963. LAFCOs were created to help implement State policy of encouraging orderly growth and development through the regulation of local public agency boundaries. This daunting task requires each Commission to balance the development required for a growing population with the competing State interests of discouraging urban sprawl, preserving agricultural resources and open space and extending government services efficiently. Each of California’s 58 counties has a LAFCO, however, they are independent of county government. Riverside LAFCO generally has jurisdiction over changes in boundaries of local agencies (cities and special districts) within Riverside County.
DISCUSSION:
Gary Thompson, Executive Officer, Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission, will provide a presentation on the process of annexation, as requested by members of the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact with this item.
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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.B
Meeting Date: September 13, 2023
From: Sandra Molina, Deputy Director of Development Services Title: Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance Update
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council adopted a Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance on January 25, 2023, to regulate roaming and stationary sidewalk vendors within the provisions of Senate Bill (SB) 946 and SB 972.
SB 946, also known as the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, was approved by the California legislature in 2018, making sidewalk vending in California legal, and prohibiting a local authority from regulating sidewalk vendors, except in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. By local ordinance, a city may adopt additional requirements requiring a permit and regulating the time, place, and manner if the requirements are directly related to objective health, safety or welfare concerns.
SB 946 prohibits the City from imposing criminal penalties for sidewalk vending and enforcement is limited to administrative citations and fines. Fine amounts differ between a licensed vendor that violates sidewalk vendor regulations and unlicensed vendors. In addition, consideration must be given to the ability to pay, which may result in the reduction of fines.
SB 972 adopted on January 1, 2023 also pertains to sidewalk vending and is mainly applicable to licensing by health departments responsible for issuance of food handling permits. It was intended to facilitate the licensing of sidewalk vendors, and allows for limited food preparation items, such as heating, frying, baking, roasting, shaving of ice, blending, steaming of hot dogs or assembly of non-prepackaged food.
The City’s sidewalk vendor ordinance, codified as Chapter 5.98 within the City’s Municipal Code, established a street vendor permit program that includes location and operational requirements where vendors must display their permit, operate only on
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public sidewalks, maintain a clean and litter free area, and provide a trash receptacle.
Sidewalk vendors cannot operate in street medians or conduct business with persons in motor vehicles.
Sidewalk vendors may operate in commercial areas between 7:00 a.m. and dusk, except they may operate beyond dusk in commercial zones when businesses are open during those hours. Roaming vendors may operate in residential zones only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and stationary vendors cannot operate in residential zones.
The sidewalk vendor ordinance also provides for the removal or seizure of product and/or equipment in the following limited circumstances:
• Abandoned or Illegally located Carts. An enforcement officer may request a sidewalk vendor to remove any cart if the cart is creating an imminent safety hazard or is placed within a prohibited area. If the vendor refuses, or the cart is abandoned, the cart may be removed and/or seized. A thirty (30) days’ notice would be provided to redeem the cart. If not claimed, the cart may be disposed of.
• Food products. An enforcement officer may immediately seize and/or dispose of any food products that are obviously spoiled, rotten, infested or otherwise unsuitable for human consumption, or has been abandoned or determined by a County health official or code officer trained in food handling to create an imminent threat to health and safety.
• Goods, Merchandise, and Vending Equipment. If goods, merchandise, or vending equipment create an imminent threat to health, safety, and welfare, an enforcement officer may request the vendor to remove them. If the vendor refuses, the enforcement officer may remove and/or seize the items and 30-day notice would be provided to claim the items. Illegal goods or contraband seized is not subject to the notice of redemption but can be appealed.
DISCUSSION:
Permits
Since the adoption of the new sidewalk vendor ordinance, a new application and informational flyer, in both English and Spanish were prepared. All code compliance officers have obtained food handlers certificates through Riverside County Environmental Health. Riverside County Environmental Health is in the process of adopting revised regulations pursuant to SB 972 and has begun accepting applications for sidewalk food vendors.
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As of August 1, 2023, the City has issued 7 roaming vendor permits, and 1 stationary vendor permit. The stationary vendor was for novelty items. Now that Riverside County is accepting applications, there have also been multiple inquiries from potential sidewalk food vendors and staff anticipates the City will also receive applications for sidewalk food vendors, primarily stationary vendors.
Enforcement
Between February 25, 2023 and September 5 , 2023, code compliance made 140 contacts with sidewalk vendors. These contacts were both proactive and in response to complaints received and have been primarily proactive contacts with stationary vendors.
In this first phase of enforcement, the approach has been to educate sidewalk vendors of the new ordinance, advise them that permits can be obtained, provide a copy of the flyer and to direct them to cease operations.
This approach has met with mixed results. Many times, the sidewalk vendor has been dropped off in the City and will not be picked up for several hours or the sidewalk vendor returns to the location the very next day . In addition, many of these vendors are not English speaking and do not have identification.
Given that education and establishment of a permitting process has not deterred unlicensed vendor activities, the next approach is to issue administrative citations.
However, vendors may not have identification on their persons, therefore, the citation will be issued to the name provided by the vendor. An effort will also be made to identify the individual employing (dropping off/picking up) the vendor so that they may be cited for operation of an unlicensed business.
While the City’s ordinance does allow, in limited instances, the removal or seizure of a cart creating an imminent safety hazard or if it is placed within a prohibited area, this approach would be taken only after careful deliberation, consideration and direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The staff costs associated with enforcement activities will be incurred.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal F - EMBRACING, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
Objective: Cathedral City is valued and respected as a community that welcomes and embraces diversity, has an abundance of high quality and affordable housing options and vibrant businesses. Our neighborhoods are attractive, well -maintained, and issues surrounding homelessness have been compassionately addressed with thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative programs.
F-16: Implement a code compliance program that proactively identifies and responds to code compliance complaints.
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ATTACHMENTS:
Sidewalk Vendor Flyer
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SIDEWALK VENDORS
WHAT IS A SIDEWALK VENDOR?
"Sidewalk vendor" means a person who
sells food or merchandise from a pushcart,
cart, wagon, shadowcase, rack, or other
non-motorized conveyance, or from one's
person, upon a public sidewalk or other
pedestrian path. "Sidewalk vendor"
includes "roaming sidewalk vendor," and
"stationary sidewalk vendor." [CCMC
5.98.020]
CONTACT US
(760) 770-0340
codecompliance@
cathedralcity.gov
68700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
www.cathedralcity.gov
Health Permits are issued by the
Riverside County Environmental
Health Department
(888) 722-4234
WWW. RIVCOEH.ORG
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BECOME A SIDEWALK VENDOR?
Business license
Sidewalk vendor permit
Riverside County Health Department Permit and proof of completion of a food handlers course, if vending food
Seller's permit issued by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, if vendor is selling wrapped food or non-food items (items that would ordinarily be subject to sales tax if sold at retail.)
WHEN IS A HEALTH PERMIT REQUIRED FOR SIDEWALK
VENDING?
If your sidewalk vending business includes packaged foods that do not spoil, a health permit is NOT required as these types of foods are not as perishable and are less likely to make someone sick. All other types of sidewalk vending businesses with unpackaged or perishable foods are REQUIRED to obtain a health permit, as these types of food can spoil easily and require special handling.
WHERE DO I APPLY FOR A SIDEWALK VENDOR PERMIT?
Applications for Sidewalk Vendor Permits are available online at www.cathedralcity.gov and at the front counter of City Hall.
WHERE AND WHEN MAY A SIDEWALK VENDOR OPERATE?
Sidewalk vendors must operate upon a public sidewalk. They cannot operate in street medians or conduct business with persons in motor vehicles.
Sidewalk vendors may operate in commercial areas between 7:00 a.m. dusk, except they may operate beyond dusk in commercial zones when businesses are open during those hours.
Roaming vendors may operate in residential zones only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Stationary vendors cannot operate in residential zones.
WHAT CAN A SIDEWALK VENDOR SELL?
Sidewalk vendors may only vend goods or food that have been approved by the City. Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, weapons, fireworks and illegal or other contraband are not permitted to be sold. Sidewalk vendors are prohibited from offering any service.
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Attachment: Sidewalk Vendor Flyer (3883 : Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance Update)
VENDEDORES EN LA ACERA
¿QUÉ ES UN VENDEDOR EN LA ACERA?
"Vendedor en la Acera " se refiere a una
persona que vende alimentos o mercancías
desde un carrito, carretilla, vagoneta,
sombrilla, estante u otro medio de
transporte no motorizado, o desde su
persona, en una acera pública u otro
camino peatonal. "Vendedor en la Acera "
incluye al "vendedor ambulante en la
acera" y al "vendedor fijo en la acera".
[CCMC 5.98.020]
CONTÁCTENOS
(760) 770-0340
codecompliance@
cathedralcity.gov
68700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
www.cathedralcity.gov
Los permisos sanitarios los expide el
Departamento de Salud Medioambiental
del Condado de Riverside
(888) 722-4234
WWW. RIVCOEH.ORG
¿QUÉ SE NECESITA PARA SER VENDEDOR EN LA ACERA?
Licencia comercial
Permiso de vendedor en la acera
Permiso del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Riverside y prueba de haber realizado un curso de manipuladores de alimentos, si vende alimentos Permiso de vendedor expedido por el Departamento de Administración de Impuestos y Tasas de California, si el vendedor vende alimentos envasados o artículos no aliment icios (artículos que normalmente estarían sujetos al impuesto sobre las ventas si se vendieran al por menor).
¿CUÁNDO SE NECESITA UN PERMISO SANITARIO PARA LA VENTA EN LA ACERA?
Si su negocio de venta en la acera incluye alimentos envasados que no se estropean, NO es necesari o un permiso sanitario, ya que este tipo de alimentos no son tan perecederos y es menos probable que enfermen a alguien. Todos los demás tipos de negocios de venta en la acera con alimentos no envasados o perecederos están OBLIGADOS a obtener un permiso sa nitario, ya que estos tipos de alimentos pueden estropearse fácilmente y requieren una manipulación especial. ¿DÓNDE PUEDO SOLICITAR UN PERMISO DE VENDEDOR EN LA ACERA? Las solicitudes de permisos para vendedores ambulantes en la acer a están disponibles en línea en www.cathedralcity.gov y en el mostrador del Ayuntamiento. ¿Dónde y cuándo puede operar un vendedor en la acera?
Los vendedores en la acera deben operar en una acera pública o camino peatonal y pueden operar en áreas no residenciales entre las 7:00 a.m. y el anochecer, excepto que pueden operar más allá de dichos límites en áreas zonificadas para uso comercial donde los negocios están abiertos durante esas horas. Los vendedores en la acera no pueden operar en las medianas de las calles ni hacer negocios con personas en vehículos de motor.
Además, los vendedores estacionarios en la acera no pueden operar en zonas residenciales. Los vendedores ambulantes en la acera deben desplazarse continuamente salvo para realizar una venta y s olo pueden operar en zonas residenciales entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 8:00 p.m.
¿Qué puede vender un vendedor en la acera?
Los vendedores en la acera solo pueden vender productos o alimentos autorizados por el Ayuntamiento. No está permitida la venta de alcohol, cannabis, tabaco, armas, fuegos artificiales ni contrabando ilegal o de otro tipo. Los vendedores ambulantes tienen prohibido ofrecer un servicio.
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Attachment: Sidewalk Vendor Flyer (3883 : Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance Update)
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Staff Report
City Council
Meeting Date: September 13, 2023
From: Charles McClendon, City Manager
Title: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of Matters: One (1)
3.A
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Staff Report
City Council
Meeting Date: September 13, 2023
From: Charles McClendon, City Manager
Title: THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES
Pursuant to Government Code section 54957
Consultation with: Fire Chief and Police Chief
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