07/19/2023 City Council Special Study Session Meeting Adopted 08/07/2023
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City of Gilroy
City Council Special Study Session Minutes
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 | 6:00 PM
1. OPENING
1.1. Call to Order
Mayor Blankley called the Special Study Session to order at 6:00 PM.
1.2. Roll Call
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Dion Bracco, Mayor Pro Tempore
Tom Cline, Council Member
Fred Tovar, Council Member
Marie Blankley, Mayor
Absent Rebeca Armendariz, Council Member
Zach Hilton, Council Member
Carol Marques, Council Member
2. STUDY SESSION
2.1. Proposed Ordinance Adding Chapter 16B, Sidewalk Vending, to the Gilroy
City Code
Special Assistant to City Administration Biggs provided staff presentation and
responded to Council Member questions.
Mayor Blankley opened Public Comment.
Jeff Orth suggested alternatives for vendor relocation and stricter
ordinance enforcement.
Dan Nelson from Tempo Kitchen and Bar highlighted safety and health
concerns about vendors' presence downtown.
Gary Walton suggested distance regulations between vendors,
restrictions on cooking methods, and a cap on vendor numbers.
Annie Palmer proposed adopting vendor regulations similar to Los
Angeles and San Diego.
Mercedes Little emphasized that vendors should adhere to conventional
business rules.
Jeanie Rizzuto supported the idea of relocating vendors to a single
location.
There being no further speakers, Mayor Blankley closed Public Comment.
Council directed that staff evaluate and include, where possible, the following
modifications to the draft sidewalk vending ordinance:
Incorporate Councilmember Cline’s written modifications, save the
addition of the “Temporary special permit” definition.
Include Mr. Cline’s written edits.
July 19, 2023 | 6:00 PM Page 2 of 2 City Council
Special Study Session Minutes
Include a prohibition on the use of publicly owned electrical outlets
(utilities)
Evaluate whether a distance between a vendor and an open window
could be added to the code
Review the City of Sacramento’s standards for clear space on its
sidewalks (50% of sidewalk width or 5’, whichever is greater)
Evaluate the City of Sacramento’s standards for customer queuing
Explore a separation distance between a curb and sidewalk vending
space to account for vehicle overhang
Identify an appropriate distance a vendor will need to be from an ATM
machine
Explore a separation distance between vendors (100’ stated as an
example)
Include separation distance to schools (400’), entertainment
establishments (600’), permitted and/or certified special events, and
farmers’ markets (300’) CHECK TERM IN STATE CODE.
Evaluate whether time limits can be imposed on vendors that reflect the
elected operating hours of adjacent businesses.
Determine whether an accessible path of travel needs to be maintained
from the sidewalk to standard, non-ADA, on-street parking spaces.
Evaluate whether generators, wood-fired cooking devices, or deep-fat
frying devices can be prohibited
Council requested that staff conduct the following research:
Number of Cities that prohibit stand-alone alcoholic beverage
consumption establishments.
Whether there is/are historic districts in the City of Gilroy
Council further requested a detailed enforcement plan and permit fees
presentation in September.
3. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Blankley adjourned the Special Study Session at 7:32 PM.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Gilroy on August 7, 2023.
Thai Nam Pham, MMC, CPMC
City Clerk