Title
Authorizing the approval of the Carts in Parks program as an ongoing program that offers opportunities for City licensed food carts & trucks to vend in Madison parks without requiring annual or daily vending permit fees.
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WHEREAS, the Board of Park Commissioners has the statutory authority, under Madison General Ordinance 8.17(2)(b), to adjust parks vending and special event permit fees from time to time; and
WHEREAS, City licensed food carts & trucks have already paid fees to the City of Madison and to Public Health of Madison and Dane County to be in compliance with all State, County, and City regulations annually; and
WHEREAS; the City no longer runs concessions out of any Madison park and allowing food vendors in some activated parks is a benefit to residents; and
WHEREAS; approximately 70% of food cart owners are minority and women owned. The City of Madison has interest in supporting this community of entrepreneurs and small business owners by offering vending locations in Madison parks; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Division and Economic Development Division (EDD) staff have developed the Carts in Parks program to offer daily vending opportunities to City licensed food carts under regulated conditions, working with Parks Division staff to determine appropriate locations and schedules for food vendors to be allowed in Madison parks; and,
WHEREAS, the Carts in Parks program will use the City licensed food cart list from the Economic Development Division to approve or deny food carts from participating in Carts in Parks. This will ensure participating food carts have all Public Health, City and County licensing as well as an approved Certificate of Insurance, listing the City of Madison as an additional insured; and,
WHEREAS, food cart vending at special events in Madison Parks will follow the approved fee structure specific to the type of event permit that was issued. Food cart vending at special events will no longer be part of the Carts in Parks program; and,
WHEREAS, food cart vendors requesting exclusive use of one Madison park location for multiple days, weeks, or months in-a-row will not be approved through the Carts in Parks program and will need to apply for an annual vending permit, subject to approved fees;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that, the Board of Park Commissioners authorizes the Parks Division to implement the Carts in Parks program as an ongoing program to allow City licensed food carts to vend in Madison parks per established program guidelines.
1. Program administration:
o Economic Development Division (EDD) will provide the list of food carts that have an approved Basic Street Vending License to the Parks Division annually around April 15. EDD will send updates to the list as needed.
o Each year, Parks Division will determine the locations and schedules for authorized food carts and trucks.
2. Eligibility: The Carts in Parks program will be open to City licensed food carts with a Basic Street Vending License. This ensures the vendor holds all required Public Health licenses, and has valid insurance on file with the City.
3. Fee Waiver: Vending fees will be waived for City licensed food carts participating in the Carts in Parks program while vending at the approved locations and hours as determined by the Parks Division.
4. Location: Locations will be determined on an annual basis. The Parks Division will work internally to determine locations and hours for each year. To facilitate internal communication, the Carts in Parks program will issue weekly reports of food carts that are approved by the program for vending in Madison Parks.
5. Invalidation: Vendors participating in this program may have their licenses invalidated to accommodate a permitted park event.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that approval of any Park Vending permits under this authorization are only for locations and schedules specifically available through this program and subject to continued compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and Public Health Madison and Dane County Orders, requirements, and guidelines; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the Carts in Parks program will take effect once approved by the Board of Park Commissioners and remain as an ongoing program.