CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

 

TO:                             Mayor and City Commission

 

FROM:                       Richard D. Sala, City Manager

 

BY:                              Sam Goren, City Attorney

                                    Tammy Reed-Holguin, Community Development Director

 

DATE:                        April 10, 2007

 

SUBJECT:                 Second Reading:

Amendment to Chapter 86 “BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS” and Chapter 106 “ZONING” of the City’s Code of Ordinances

 

APPLICANT: City of North Lauderdale

 

Background:

As the City redevelops and creates new and diverse opportunities for commerce, one venue that may be requested is outdoor vendor locations.  In anticipation of these requests, the City Commission directed that staff look into the concept of outdoor vendors and how they are currently regulated.  Staff reported back to the City Commission on January 9th, 2007 and received direction to draft an Ordinance regulating this use.  The staff presented the proposed Ordinance to the City Commission on February 28, 2007 and it was approved on first reading. Tonight, we are presenting the Ordinance for consideration on second reading and final adoption.

 

In order to ascertain how and where outdoor vendors are permitted and properly regulated, the staff researched the Land Development Regulations of other cities.  Most Ordinances permitted only temporary vendors related to special events and mobile vendors.  Permanent stationary vendors were not common.  The main concern for permitting these vendors relates to insuring that the business is conducted in a manner that will preserve the safety of pedestrians, will not create a public nuisance, will not increase traffic congestion or delays, will not constitute a hazard to traffic, life or property, or create an obstruction to adequate public safety or health.  Staff also considered how outdoor vendors will fit into the City’s redevelopment plans and the possibility of numerous applications.

 

The attached Ordinance permits permanent outdoor vendors but provides restrictions on the location, manner of operation, relationship to the anchor business and the number of vendors licensed.  The Ordinance establishes this use as a Special Exception Use (SEU) that must be approved by the City Commission.  The application for the outdoor vendor must be presented by the anchor business who accepts the liability and responsibility for the vendor and its operations. A complete application will include, but not be limited to, a letter of intent, a site plan showing the area where the outdoor vendor will be stationed, criminal background check on vendor, proper license from other applicable regulatory agencies and associated fee.  The anchor business sponsoring the vendor must be housed in one building with a gross square footage of no less than 100,000 square feet and only one outdoor vendor will be permitted per commercial plaza.  Non-profit organizations that stage infrequent weekend fundraisers with the permission of the business owner will not be affected by this Ordinance, nor will Broward County-licensed mobile vendors.

 

The City recognizes the positive impact that outdoor vendors may have on the economy while at the same time being aware of the public safety concerns that this type of use may present.  The attached ordinance provides the ability to consider permitting a limited number of stationary permanent outdoor vendors that meet the specifications outlined and considered through a Special Exception Use permit process only.

 

The City Commission approved the attached Ordinance on first reading on February 28, 2007.  It is before the Commission tonight for second reading and adoption.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

The City Administration recommends Commission’s approval and adoption on second reading of the attached ordinance amending Chapter 86 of the City Code of Ordinance to provide findings and intents, definitions, application requirements and to provide for a time, place and manner for the operation of outdoor vendors and Chapter 106 to outline the application process requiring a Special Exception Use permit and adding Outdoor Vendor (stationary) to the Master Business List.

 


ORDINANCE NO.  ___________________

 

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 86 OF THE CITY’S CODE OF ORDINANCES, ENTITLED “BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS”; SPECIFICALLY AMENDING ARTICLE IV, ENTITLED “BUSINESSES”, BY CREATING DIVISION 3, TO BE ENTITLED “OUTDOOR VENDORS”; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS AND INTENT;  PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR PERMIT REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING A FOR A TIME, PLACE AND MANNER IN WHICH OUTDOOR VENDORS MAY OPERATE; PROVIDING AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR STATIONARY OUTDOOR VENDORS; AMENDING CHAPTER 106 OF THE CITY’S CODE OF ORDINANCES, ENTITLED “ZONING”, SPECIFICALLY AMENDING ARTICLE IV, ENTITLED “SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES” BY AMENDING SEC. 106-158, ENTITLED “APPLICATION PROCESS”; FURTHER AMENDING SEC. 106-468, ENTITLED “MASTER BUSINESS LIST” TO PROVIDE FOR STATIONARY OUTDOOR VENDORS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

            WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of North Lauderdale (hereinafter referred to as the “City”) anticipates an increase in the number of outdoor vendors who desire to market and sell their goods at various locations throughout the City; and

            WHEREAS, the anticipated presence of outdoor vendors in the City creates a number of public safety concerns including, but not limited to interference with ingress and egress on public streets, increased traffic congestion on City roads, and obstruction of emergency vehicle access on public roads, among other things; and

            WHEREAS, despite these concerns the City Commission recognizes the benefits and advantages provided by such outdoor vendors including the positive effect they have on the City’s economy; and

            WHEREAS, in an effort to lessen the negative impact on the City caused by outdoor vendors and promote public health and safety, the City Commission seeks to establish guidelines and regulations by which such vendors may be able to operate in the City; and

            WHEREAS, the City Commission believes such regulations are in the best interests of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the City and will better protect the safety of the City’s outdoor vendors;

                        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA THAT:

            Section 1.        The foregoing "WHEREAS" clauses are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and correct, and are hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

            Section 2.        Chapter 86, Article IV of the City of North Lauderdale’s Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by creating Division 3, to be entitled “Outdoor Vendors”, as follows:

 

Division 3.      Outdoor Vendors

Sec. 86-151. Findings and Intent

It is the intent of the City Commission to enact a policy regulating outdoor vendors in an effort to protect the health, safety and welfare of citizens, residents and businesses in the city. It is the further intent and purpose of the City Commission to regulate outdoor vendors doing business in the city in an effort to limit the adverse impact to traffic and pedestrians resulting from the operation of such vendors.

 

This section shall not apply to temporary, non-profit organizations operating as outdoor vendors in the City, unless otherwise required by resolution of the City Commission. 

 

Sec. 86-152.    Definitions

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

 

Outdoor Vendor means any person, whether as owner, agent, consignee or employee who sells or attempts to sell services, goods, wares or merchandise, including food or beverage, from any stationary outdoor location.

 

Sec. 86-153. Permit and Application Requirements

 

(1) All outdoor vendors must be affiliated with a permanent business located within the city, and a special exception use permit and occupation license are required to operate as an outdoor vendor.

 

(2) Only one (1) outdoor vendor permit shall be issued per shopping plaza.

 

(3) The owner of a permanent business must submit the application for the outdoor vendor, and the permanent business must submit in writing its acceptance of liability and responsibility for the outdoor vendor and its operations.

 

(4) Applicants for special exception use permits required by this section shall file an application in writing with the Community Development Director, or his or her designee. Applications for outdoor vendor special use permits shall include the following: 

 

(a) Name of the owner of the permanent business and the name of the outdoor vendor;

 

(b) Address of the applicant;

 

(c) A brief description of the nature of the outdoor vendor business and the goods to be sold;

 

(d) Photograph of the outdoor vendor taken within sixty (60) days immediately prior to the date of filing of the application, which picture shall be two (2) inches by two (2) inches showing the head and shoulders of the outdoor vendor;

 

(e) The fingerprints of the outdoor vendor and the names of at least two (2) property owners of Broward County, Florida, who will certify as to the outdoor vendor’s good character and business responsibility, or, in lieu of the names of references, any other available evidence as to the good character and business responsibility of the vendor as will enable an investigator to properly evaluate such character and business responsibility;

 

(f) A sworn affidavit stating whether or not the outdoor vendor has been convicted of any crime, or violation of any municipal or county ordinance, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefore.

 

(5) Applicants for all food-handling businesses shall file with the application a Broward County Health Department Certificate of Inspection.

 

(6) A special exception use permit fee of $300 shall be filed along with each application for an outdoor vendor permit. This fee may be subject to change in accordance with the City’s permit fee schedule. 

 

(7) Such permits shall be conspicuously displayed by the vendor and shall contain the signature and seal of the issuing officer. All permits shall show the name, address and emergency contact information of the permitee.

 

(8) The City Commission may, by resolution, limit the number of permits that the City will issue to outdoor vendors. 

 

Sec. 86-154 Activities limited to certain areas

 

(1) Outdoor vendors shall operate no more than ten (10) feet from the permanent business holding the permit authorizing the outdoor vendor to operate.

 

(2) Outdoor vendors shall be located no less than three hundred (300) feet from the edge of any point on the public right-of-way.

 

(3) Outdoor vendors shall only be allowed to operate in conjunction with a permanent business on a given property with a minimum of one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet of floor area.

 

(4) Outdoor vendors shall be located no less than ten (10) feet from any point of ingress or egress of the permanent business, or restrict or interfere with any customers gaining access to the permanent business with which they are affiliated.

 

(5) Outdoor vendors shall operate only at designated locations as determined by the Community Development Director upon review of a Site Plan.

 

 

Sec. 85-155. Hours of Operation

 

Outdoor vendors shall be allowed to operate in accordance with the hours of operation of the permanent business holding the permit authorizing the outdoor vendor to operate.

Section 3.        Chapter 106, Article IV of the City of North Lauderdale’s Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by amending Sec. 106-158, entitled “Application process”, as follows:

Sec. 106-158   Application process.                              

 

(11) Applications for special exception use permits for stationary outdoor vendors shall be filed in accordance with Sec. 86-153 of the City’s Code of Ordinances.

            Section 4.        Chapter 106, Article XV of the City of North Lauderdale’s Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by amending Sec. 106-468, entitled “Master business list”, as follows:

Business list

Prohibited

B-1 Neighborhood

B-2

Commercial

B-3

Commercial

 

B-4

Commercial

 

Outdoor vendor (stationary)

 

 

*7

*7

 

Section 5.        It is the intention of the City Commission of the City of North Lauderdale, Florida that the provisions of this ordinance shall become and be made a part of the City of North Lauderdale Code of Ordinances.  The sections of this ordinance may be re-numbered or re-lettered and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section," "article," or such other appropriate word or phrase in order to accomplish such intentions.

            Section 6.        All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances, Resolutions or parts of Resolutions in conflict herewith be, and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.

            Section 7.        If any clause, section, or other part or application of this Ordinance shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, such unconstitutional or invalid part or application shall be considered as eliminated and so not affecting the validity of the remaining portions or applications remaining in full force and effect.

            Section 8.        This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.


 

 

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, ON THE FIRST READING, THIS _____ DAY OF ___________, 2007.

 

 

PASSED ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, ON THE SECOND AND FINAL READING, THIS _____ DAY OF _________________, 2007.

 

 

                                   

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        MAYOR JACK BRADY

 

ATTEST:

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        VICE MAYOR RICHARD MOYLE

 

______________________________

C. MILLI DYER, CMC

 

                                   

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

 

______________________________

SAMUEL S. GOREN

CITY ATTORNEY