2010-856- Transient Vendors in Jacksonville

[newzgrrl]

Again is anyone on this forum participating in the recent JCCI study Recession, Recovery, and Beyond?

Yes, I've attended most of the regional studies (I missed Nassau and St. Johns counties).

[Noone]

Good.

Is there anything you can share? Do other counties have a transient vender ban? On Friday stopped by a number of transient venders and there was real concern.

This will be in Rules Monday.

[spuwho]

Drive down Beach from the Intercoastal to St Nicholas.

You have your choice of Boiled Peanuts, Fruit, (either watermelons or peaches) Veggies, hot dogs, numerous parkings of cars for sale from individuals, newspaper salesmen on the left turn parkway, firewood, occasionally furniture out of the truck.

It's probably more about aesthetics and tax revenue.

Yes, they provide economic competition, but they also take sales out of tax paying businesses.

[Noone]

St. Nicholas.

That reminds me of the guy that sets up across from the Mudville Grill and is in the Salvation Army Thrift store parking lot. Had some of his food a while back. He's been there a long time.
Councilman Redman will need to drive by and tell him that if 2010-856 passes your butt is gone.

[ChriswUfGator]

The sad part is this won't affect the truly irritating 'vendors' like the Times-Union guys who jump in front of your car at stoplights. I am always worried I'm going to hit one accidentally. It will just run off the guys serving pretty damned good hot dogs. It also won't do anything about all the cars for sale on the sides of the road, we already have ordinances preventing that and they all just do it anyway. This is going to hurt the good vendors and do nothing to stop the annoying ones, this bill needs to be scrapped.

[CS Foltz]

City just wants their cut of the potential pie! Doesn't matter who is affected, they just want some money up front! Got to fill that $58 Million Dollar hole somehow and this will fill the gap...........right?

[Noone]

Monday at Rules 2010-856 was deferred. The legislation will also go to LUZ.

Chairwoman Lee when bill numbers were presented recognized and read into the record the person or persons and if they were for or against that piece of legislation. Public comment wasn't taken just the YES or NO. Although at other times speakers comments were read into the record.

Obviously an inconsistent pattern. Still needs tweaking.

At the end of the meeting chairwoman Lee did allow for Public Comment. Pats on the back for making citizen participation better than what it has been in the past.   

Still not being addressed. What is the boundary of Downtown? Will every 501-c be exempt?

There will be a noticed meeting TBA. 

[YellowBluffRoad]

I did some research in Jacksonville.com archives. It appears that the City Council tried to change these limits in 2005 and ultimately the bill was withdrawn after nearly 5 months of amendments, revisions, and meetings.  The original bill was 2005-91 and was focused on raw seafood vendors, but also attempted to set a 1,000 foot limit for all transient vendors. The new proposal would set a limit over 5 times greater than what they failed to pass in 2005. Does anyone on this board recall why that one was ultimately squashed?

I also found a Times Union article from August 2005 where a representative from Jacksonville Consumer Affairs indicated there were 75 licensed downtown transient merchants and 173 outside downtown. I wonder what the current number of licensed transient merchants is 5 years later.

[Noone]

Good catch YBR.
This is an election year. The legislation is horrible. Ask the mayoral candidates what is their position.

We are in the middle of a JCCI study Recession, Recovery, and Beyond. As a participant in two previous ones Skip Kramer executive director of JCCI and Elaine Brown former Jacksonville city council member and acting moderator or chair of the current study need to be immediately aware of this pending legislation and councilman Webb or Joost can make themselves available to the study group so as to help them in their future recommendations to the city. This legislation is being slipped in. Be concerned.

Has anyone heard when the noticed meeting on this legislation is to take place?

Also in 2005 another piece of legislation was passed.
2005-1283

It needs to be withdrawn now or you can just say that we want less economic opportunity in Jacksonville.

Our new slogan.

Lets get to work- Just not in Jacksonville

 

[fieldafm]

After speaking at length with one such vendor(one that operates not only a transient but several businesses with fixed locations in the city) earlier today about this bill....  I can now say I am 100% against 2010-856.

Mr Jim Bailey was on this board a few weeks ago talking about the need to 'get out of our own way' and to 'make it easier for small businesses to operate'.  I think this particular bill perfectly illustrates those ideals. 

What's really mind boggling is that the city doesnt enforce the current law on the books. 

And I say that with all due respect to Chris Trad who is very vocal in his support of this legislation.  I steer away from the roadside nursuries and always shop at Trad's (or Hall's if they have a decent coupon in Money Magazine).

IMO, this bill represents a crowding out scenario that isn't in line with a functioning free market.  I firmly believe we need to create an Entrepreneurial Economy in this city.  2010-856 would not help advance such an ideal.

[Ocklawaha]

Drive down Beach from the Intercoastal to St Nicholas.

You have your choice of Boiled Peanuts, Fruit, (either watermelons or peaches) Veggies, hot dogs, numerous parkings of cars for sale from individuals, newspaper salesmen on the left turn parkway, firewood, occasionally furniture out of the truck.

It's probably more about aesthetics and tax revenue.

Yes, they provide economic competition, but they also take sales out of tax paying businesses.

Why the need to buck every effort on the part of free citizens? Think about it, we have identified something uniquely Jacksonvilleish, if it's about aesthetics, corridor it, and make it more popular... Besides the hot dogs at Gate suck and forget finding boiled peanuts. Welcome to Jacksonville's old fashioned vendor market...

OCKLAWAHA

[Ernest Street]

Ock, since our town is so big and "Diversified"  a lot of folks stay on their respective sides of town and don't understand the different lifestyles and way of life some residents choose.
The original Cracker lifestyle is not on the radar of those whom frequent SJTC and the ugly south side/beach suburban sprawl. They seem content with stucco coated Pressboard "Mc Mansions" in some run down subdivision. (this is Argyle and OP also)
This is not an attack..it's just what some want.

Just because you chose to live on the Westside or Northside doesn't instantly make you a Redneck.
Why do open air sales make so many uptight people so mad?...It's like TV..if you don't like the program change the channel.
Drive on by and don't Buy!
Don't Baptists or city council members still believe in the Christian philosophy of "Live and let live?

[Ocklawaha]

Sure they do Earnest. My thinking is IF YOU MUST bump them around then identify area's where they seem to cluster and give these some boundaries (and I don't mean curb setbacks) such as between "San Pablo and the Intercoastal" or "within the described bounds of a historic district", hell we could set them up in every one of the towns M/L 6-7 geographic areas.

A great example of one that will be flamed by this rule that is truly needed is the little - and ever expanding - cart at the VA clinic.  Since Shand's put up the "Shand's Curtain" to keep the veterans and dogs off their lawn there is no way to get ANYTHING to eat or drink without a 3 block hike. Try that after losing your legs in a Hummer/IED incident in some God forsaken desert... Makes you REAL PROUD to be an all American Veteran.

OCKLAWAHA

[Ernest Street]

What happened to the Rug Vendors?  I'm still looking for my Velvet rug with Elvis and Jesus holding hands and walking across water.
Although I would be placated with one of those Original "Dog Poker Game" rugs.

[Noone]

Today is the St. Johns River Alliance Board meeting in Palatka. John Delaney is the chair, 34 Board members. Hope there is an opportunity for Public comment. Want to ask if the other 12 counties that comprise our American Heritage River have a 1 mile ban on water related transient vendors?