Source: https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3686667&GUID=A0683818-66E6-4651-8B31-3D65EE4D61B1&Options=&Search=
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 09:17:34+00:00

Document:
File #: Int 1116-2018 Version: * A Name: Expanding the availability of food vendor permits, creating an office of street vendor enforcement, and establishing a street vendor advisory board.
Summary: This bill would gradually expand the number of permits to vend food on the streets and sidewalks of New York City. A number of new permits, now referred to as supervisory licenses, would be issued in batches each year beginning in 2019 until 2029. The new supervisory licenses require at least one supervisory licensee to be present at a pushcart at all times. This new requirement will not be applied to existing permits. The bill will also increase the fees for all permits and supervisory licenses. Importantly, the bill creates a new dedicated vending law enforcement unit, which would exclusively enforce vending laws. It would focus first on those areas of the City with known vending enforcement challenges, and move to all areas as compliance improves. It would also create a street vendor advisory board, which will include vendors, brick and mortar small businesses, representatives from community groups, labor unions, property owners, and city agencies, to examine the rules for duplicative, unclear, or unnecessary provisions.
d. engage in such other activities related to enforcement of laws related to vending on the streets and sidewalks of the city of New York, or related to improving compliance with such laws, as may be designated by the mayor. For the purposes of this section, “excessively congested” areas include, but are not limited to, areas where pedestrian volume regularly approaches or exceeds the capacity of the sidewalk.
q. "Fresh fruits and vegetables". [Unprocessed unfrozen] Unfrozen raw fruits and vegetables that have not been combined with other ingredients.
r. "Fresh fruits and vegetables permit". A full-term permit for the vending at retail solely of fresh fruits or vegetables, [or both,] water, raw single ingredient nuts and any other food designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1, from a pushcart or vehicle in a public place. Unless otherwise specified, a fresh fruits and vegetables permit shall be a permit in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
s. "Green cart". A pushcart or vehicle used exclusively by those issued fresh fruits and vegetables full-term permits pursuant to section 17-307 of this subchapter [and which, in addition to being in compliance with all other legal requirements applicable to non-processing pushcarts, must also have a distinctive and easily recognizable appearance in accordance with rules to be established by the commissioner].
(iii) working alongside a food vendor at such vehicle or pushcart who has been issued a supervisory license pursuant to section 17-307.1.
(b) The commissioner shall establish standards relating to the size and design of such vehicles and pushcarts. No vendors shall vend from any vehicle or pushcart which does not comply with the standards established by the commissioner. No vendor shall vend from other than a vehicle or pushcart.
(c) No food vendor issued a fresh fruits and vegetables permit shall vend from other than a vehicle or a green cart. No food vendor issued a fresh fruits and vegetables permit shall vend any food other than fresh fruits and vegetables, water, raw single ingredient nuts and other food designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1 from the green cart or vehicle for which the permit was issued.
(a) [On] Except for permits issued to persons holding supervisory licenses pursuant to section 17-307.1, on and after July thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-three, no new full-term permits shall be issued until the number of such permits which are in effect is less than three thousand. Thereafter, the maximum number of such permits which may be in effect shall be three thousand and no new permits shall be issued in excess of such maximum number. Notwithstanding the limitations on the issuance of new full-term permits, a permit issued prior to July thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-three which is in effect shall be renewable by the licensee to whom the permit was issued subject to the provisions of subparagraph (f) of this paragraph and provided that all other requirements for renewal under the provisions of this subchapter and any rules promulgated pursuant thereto are complied with, the license of the person to whom the permit was issued or the permit has not been revoked or suspended and the licensee has not committed a violation or violations which could be a basis for permit or license revocation or suspension.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph two of this subdivision limiting the number of full-term permits that are authorized to be issued, and not including permits issued to persons holding supervisory licenses pursuant to section 17-307.1, the commissioner may issue up to a maximum of one hundred additional full-term permits authorizing the holders thereof to vend food from any vehicle or pushcart in any public place in the city of New York where food vendors are not prohibited from vending. Such permits shall be issued only to natural persons who at the time of application for a permit hereunder are not holders of a full-term permit issued pursuant to paragraph two of this subdivision and who have not had a full-term permit revoked or suspended. No person shall be issued more than one permit. Such permits shall be issued in the order in which applications for such permits are received in accordance with the preferences specified in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph and the procedures established by the commissioner. The issuance or renewal of a full-term permit pursuant to this paragraph shall be subject to the permittee within three months after the certification of a complete application therefor presenting a pushcart or vehicle for inspection by the department and, within six months after such certification, passing such inspection, except that such deadlines shall not apply to an applicant for a full-term permit who has been issued a supervisory license pursuant to section 17-307.1. After the initial issuance of such permits, the commissioner shall establish a waiting list, not to exceed four hundred in number, to be administered in accordance with procedures to be established by rules of the commissioner.
(i) three hundred fifty of such fruits and vegetables permits shall authorize the holders thereof to vend fresh fruits and vegetables, water, raw single ingredient nuts and any other food designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1 from any vehicle or any green cart in the borough of the Bronx in the areas designated in clause (i) of subparagraph b of this paragraph.
(ii) three hundred fifty of such fruits and vegetables permits shall authorize the holders thereof to vend fresh fruits and vegetables, water, raw single ingredient nuts and any other food designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1 from any vehicle or any green cart in the borough of Brooklyn in the areas designated in clause (ii) of subparagraph b of this paragraph.
(iii) one hundred fifty of such fresh fruits and vegetables permits shall authorize the holders thereof to vend fresh fruits and vegetables, water, raw single ingredient nuts and any other food designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1 from any vehicle or any green cart in the borough of Manhattan in the areas designated in clause (iii) of subparagraph b of this paragraph.
(iv) one hundred of such fresh fruits and vegetables permits shall authorize the holders thereof to vend fresh fruits and vegetables, water, raw single ingredient nuts and any other food designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1 from any vehicle or any green cart in the borough of Queens in the areas designated in clause (iv) of subparagraph b of this paragraph.
(v) fifty of such fresh fruits and vegetables permits shall authorize the holders thereof to vend fresh fruits and vegetables, water, raw single ingredient nuts and any other food designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1 from any vehicle or any green cart in the borough of Staten Island in the areas designated in clause (v) of subparagraph b of this paragraph.
d. A food vendor's license shall entitle the holder thereof to vend any food which the commissioner or board may authorize or otherwise approve, except that a food vendor vending from a green cart or vehicle with a fresh fruits and vegetables permit shall only be authorized to vend fresh fruit and vegetables, water, raw single ingredient nuts and any other food that has been designated by the commissioner as healthful pursuant to section 17-324.1. No food vendor while acting as such shall vend any item which the commissioner or board has not authorized or otherwise approved.
h. On and after June 1, 2020, any newly issued permit to vend from a vehicle or pushcart, full-term or temporary, that is issued pursuant to this section shall require that such vehicle or pushcart be operated only when a person who has been issued a supervisory license pursuant to section 17-307.1 is present.
a. Eligibility for supervisory license.
(b) such person has held a food vendor license continuously since on or before March 1, 2015.
2. Any natural person may apply for a supervisory license who has been issued a permit, on or after June 1, 2020, pursuant to paragraphs 2 or 3 of subdivision b, or subdivision f, of section 17-307.
b. Issuance of supervisory licenses.
(c) On June 1 of each calendar beginning in 2027 until June 1, 2029.
(d) If more than 400 persons apply by June 1 of any such calendar year, such licenses shall be distributed first to those persons defined in paragraph 1 of subdivision a of this section by order of applicant submission . To the extent the number of persons that apply for such licenses exceeds the number of available supervisory licenses, and the list of persons defined in paragraph 1 of subdivision a has been exhausted, the distribution required by this paragraph shall be determined by lottery.
(d) If more than 45 persons apply by June 1 of any such calendar year, such licenses shall be determined by lottery.
3. The department shall not issue a supervisory license to any person who at the time of application had a permit issued pursuant to subdivision b or f of section 17-307 revoked or suspended or who is not fit and able to conduct, maintain or operate a food vending business.
4. The department shall not issue a supervisory license to any person who is a minor.
5. Any supervisory license issued pursuant to this section shall include, at minimum, the full name and address of the licensee.
6. No person shall be issued more than one supervisory license.
7. Any supervisory license issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for two years unless suspended or revoked.
c. Issuance of permit. Notwithstanding the numerical limitations on the number of full-term permits described in paragraphs 2 and 3 of subdivision b of section 17-307, the department shall make available a full-term or temporary permit to any natural person holding a supervisory license pursuant to this section, provided that such person meets all other requirements for issuance of such permit.
d. Regulation of supervisory licenses.
1. Any vehicle or pushcart that has a decal issued by the department, which has been obtained by a person issued a permit on or after June 1, 2020, shall not be operated without the presence of a supervisory licensee.
2. A person issued a supervisory license is authorized to vend food from any vehicle or pushcart that has a decal issued by the department.
e. The department is authorized to promulgate any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
b. The annual fee for a license or renewal thereof shall be twenty-five dollars, except that the annual fee for a supervisory license shall be four hundred dollars; provided, however, that for an initial license issued for more than two years the applicable license fee shall be increased proportionally to the nearest quarter year.
2. For a vehicle selling foods prepared or processed therein: one hundred dollars for a person with a supervisory license, and four hundred seventy-five dollars for a person without a supervisory license.
1. The name, home and business address of the applicant. If the applicant is applying for a permit to vend food from a vehicle or pushcart in a public place, the name, home address and license number of every food vendor who will be authorized to operate such applicant's vehicle or pushcart, if such operation is permitted by the terms of such permit, and the legal relationship between such applicant and such food vendor.
d. No vending pushcart shall be located against display windows of fixed location businesses, nor shall they be within twenty feet of any licensed stoop line stand, licensed sidewalk cafe, or any entranceway to any building, store, theatre, movie house, sports arena or other place of public assembly, or within twenty feet from exits, including service exits, to buildings that are exclusively residential at the street level.
m. No license or permit shall be issued to a person required to have a license or permit pursuant to this subchapter, and no license or permit shall be renewed for such a person, unless they obtain a certificate issued by the department subsequent to successful completion of a training developed by the department on the vending restrictions contained in this section, and passage of an examination administered by the department. A permitee or licensee shall not be required to retake the training and examination for subsequent license or permit renewals unless such person has been issued one or more violations of the provisions of this subchapter and any rules promulgated thereunder within a two year period. Any examinations, lectures or educational materials designed for such training program shall be made available in English and in the six most common languages spoken by limited English proficient individuals in the city according to the department of city planning. Such educational materials shall be available on the department's website.
n. The department, or such other agency designated by the mayor, shall provide a website and mobile application that allows the user to view a map of block faces on which food vending is not permissible pursuant to this section or any other law or rule, based on the day and hour entered.
5. A licensee issued a "fresh fruits and vegetables" permit, pursuant to paragraph 4 of subdivision b of section 17-307 of this subchapter, is found to be vending food [other than fresh fruits and vegetables] they are not permitted to sell or is found to be vending in a police precinct other than one in which the licensee is authorized to vend in accordance with his (her) borough-specific permit.
e. Any notice of violation issued to a food vendor by an officer or employee described in subdivision a of this section that is returnable to [the environmental control board] a tribunal established within the office of administrative trials and hearings or within any agency of the city of New York designated to conduct such proceedings shall state the permit number of the vehicle or pushcart associated with such notice of violation. Any fine, penalty or judgment duly imposed by such tribunal shall be considered to have been issued against the permittee associated with such permit number for the purposes of the non-issuance or renewal of a food vendor permit pursuant to subdivision b of section 17-317.
§ 17-324.1 Other Foods. The commissioner may designate by rule a list of additional healthful foods that are in compliance with the recommendations in the most recent dietary guidelines for americans issued by the United States department of agriculture. Such healthful foods may be sold by vendors who have been issued fresh fruits and vegetables permits pursuant to subdivision b of section 17-307 of this code.
a. All licenses issued pursuant to this subchapter shall be valid for [one year] two years unless sooner suspended or revoked. The commissioner shall establish by regulation the expiration date of such licenses.
2. within five feet from (a) bus shelters, (b) newsstands, (c) public telephones or (d) disabled access ramps[; and].
r. The department, or such other agency designated by the mayor, shall provide a website and mobile application that allows the user to view a map of the block faces on which general vending is not permissible pursuant to this section or any other law or rule, based on the day and hour entered.
§ 20-465.2 Street vendor advisory board. a. There is hereby established a street vendor advisory board consisting of the commissioner of consumer affairs, the commissioner of health and mental hygiene, the commissioner of small business services, the commissioner of transportation, and the police commissioner, or their designees, six members appointed by the speaker, two of whom represent street vendors, one of whom represents the small business community, one of whom represents organizations representing workers at retail food stores, one of whom represents property owners and one of whom who represents a community organization, and three members appointed by the mayor, two of whom represent street vendors and one of whom represents the small business community.
b. In addition to its other duties, the street vendor advisory board shall, prior to May 1 of each year from 2021 through 2029, issue to the speaker of the council a recommendation on whether the department of health and mental hygiene’s authority to issue any or all of the supervisory licenses authorized to be issued by such department should be restricted, expanded, or otherwise altered based on an analysis of the results of the increased number of mobile food vendor permits issued pursuant to the local law that created this section.
c. The street vendor advisory board shall review and evaluate all state and local laws and rules related to street vendors, including placement restrictions such as the minimum distance of 20 feet from any building entrance or exit, and the process for obtaining a street vendor license or permit pursuant to titles 17 and 20 of the administrative code. In conducting such review and evaluation the board shall consider whether such laws and rules should be clarified, are overly burdensome, or are duplicative. On or before January 1, 2020, the board shall submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor a report containing the board’s recommendations in relation to amendments to local laws and/or rules based on such review and evaluation and the basis for each recommendation. Such report shall also include recommendations for the creation of designated community spaces where street vendors can congregate to vend, including specific recommendations concerning appropriate locations for food trucks and the availability of commissary space throughout the city.
§ 22. The department of transportation shall operate a designated vending locations pilot program. Such pilot program shall, no later than June 1, 2019, identify at least five areas in the city that contain a high level of vendor activity and generate a high number of vending-related complaints. The boundaries of such areas shall be posted on such department’s website and may be modified at any time. Until June 1, 2021, the department of transportation may, after consultation with affected community boards and business improvement districts, waive or modify restrictions on the placement of food and general vendors contained in sections 17-315 and 20-465 in such areas. Modifications to restrictions made pursuant to this section shall not result in a net decrease of more than twenty percent in permissible vending areas in any area in the designated vending locations pilot program. The department of transportation shall issue a report to the mayor and council on or before October 1, 2021 on the results of any such waivers or modifications.
§ 23. Nothing in this local law limits the authority of any agency granted elsewhere in law to enforce any law or rule.
§ 24. The commissioners of health and mental hygiene and consumer affairs, and the board of health, may promulgate rules as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this local law.
§ 25. Sections one, ten, eleven, and sixteen of this local law take effect 90 days after they become law. Sections two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, twelve, fifteen, seventeen, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three and twenty-four of this local law take effect immediately. Sections thirteen, nineteen and twenty of this local law take effect 30 days after they become law. Section nineteen of this local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law. Section fourteen of this local law takes effect one year after it becomes law.

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