§ 5-6. Vendors and solicitors.

(a)

Purpose. The primary purpose of the public streets, sidewalks, and other public ways is for use by vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Vending on such public ways promotes the public interest by contributing to an active and attractive pedestrian environment. Reasonable regulation of vending on public ways and in public places is necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare. To protect local residents against trespassing by peddlers, solicitors, and vendors upon the private property of such residents if they have given reasonable notice that they do not wish to be solicited by such persons or do not desire to receive merchandise or services. The regulations contained in this section are not intended in any way to prohibit or hamper speech that is protected by the constitution of both the United States and the State of Texas but merely to regulate specific activities, which are commercial in nature. This entire section is and shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the State of Texas and of the City of Terrell for the process set forth above.

(b)

Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

(1)

Peddlers, solicitors, and vendor shall mean any person firm or corporation, whether as owner, agent, consignee or employee, whether a resident of the city or not, who engages in a business of selling or offering for sale, food, beverages, goods, services, wares and merchandise or engages in soliciting orders for the sale of goods, services, wares and merchandise for future delivery and who, in furtherance of such purposes, hires, leases, uses or occupies any stand, motor vehicle, tent, or from his or her person.

(2)

Motor vehicle shall mean any vehicle used for the displaying, storing, or transportation of articles for sale by a vendor which is required to be licensed and registered by the state department of motor vehicles. This term is to include, but not be limited to, trailers, trucks, buses, and automobiles.

(3)

Stand shall mean any newsstand, table, bench, booth, rack, handcart, pushcart, or any other fixture or device which is not required to be licensed and registered by the department of motor vehicles, and is used for the display, storage, or transportation of articles offered for sale by a vendor.

(4)

Special event shall mean any occasion including, but not limited to, fairs, shows, exhibitions, citywide celebrations, festivals, etc., within a specifically defined area of the city for a period of time not to exceed five days.

(5)

Public place shall mean any public road, street, alley, park, building, or other property of the city or any other place to which people commonly congregate for the purpose of business, recreation, or amusement.

(6)

Door-to-door selling shall mean going to one or more residence within the city in person or by the agent for the purpose of peddling, soliciting, or vending, who engages in a business of selling or offering for sale, food, beverages, goods, services, wares and merchandise or engages in soliciting orders for the sale of goods, services, wares and merchandise for future delivery.

(7)

Merchandise is used in its broadest sense and shall include property of every kind.

(8)

Services is used in its broadest sense and shall include any work done for the benefit of another person.

(9)

Temporary shall mean any such business for which definite arrangements have not been made for the hire, rental or lease of premises for at least one month, in or upon which such business is to be operated or conducted.

(c)

License required. It shall be unlawful for any vendor or solicitor to engage in the business of selling, displaying, or offering for sale any food, beverage, goods, services or merchandise at any public place within the City of Terrell without first obtaining a license from the city secretary.

(d)

Application. Every person desiring to engage in the business of a vendor as defined in subsection (a) above shall apply for a license from the city secretary. The application must include the following:

(1)

The full name, home address, permanent business address (if any), telephone number, driver's license number, and proof of identity;

(2)

A brief description of the nature, character, and quality of the food, beverages, goods or merchandise to be sold;

(3)

The specific location, if any, in which the vendor intends to conduct business;

(4)

If the vendor is employed by or is an agent of another, the name and business address of the principal/hiring person, firm, association, organization, company or corporation;

(5)

If a motor vehicle is to be used in the vending business, a description of the vehicle, together with the motor vehicle registration number, license number, and a copy of the vehicle's current proof of liability insurance;

(6)

A copy of the vendor's current State of Texas Sales Tax Permit together with written documentation from the state comptroller that all sales taxes that may be due and owing by the vendor have been fully paid;

(7)

A complete listing of any other licenses or permits issued to applicant by the City of Terrell within the past five years;

(8)

A written statement from the property owner consenting to applicant's use of his/her property for the sales activities indicated in the permit application.

(e)

Health permit. The application of any vendor engaged in the sale or distribution of food or beverages shall also be referred to the local heath department for approval of a valid health permit. The health permit shall be required in addition to the vending license required by this article. Such vendor's equipment shall be subject to inspections by the health department at the time of application and at periodic intervals thereafter.

(f)

Issuance of license and payment of fees. Not later than 30 days after the filing of a completed application for a vendor's license, the applicant shall be notified by the city secretary of the decision on the issuance or denial of the license. If it is found that the applicant has fully complied with all provisions of this article, said applicant will be required to pay a license fee in the amount of $1,800.00 for such license. The purpose of the fee is to partly defray the expenses of surveillance and inspection of the premises and property of the licensee, and the enforcement of the provisions of this article.

(g)

License not transferable. The license provided for in this section shall not be transferable nor give authority to more than one person to sell or exhibit food, beverages, goods, wares and merchandise either by agent or clerk or in any other way than his own proper person, but any person having obtained such license may have the assistance of one or more persons in conducting the sale or exhibit who shall have the authority to aid that principal but not to act for or without him.

(h)

Duration of license; display and identification badge. The license provided for in this article shall continue so long as the licensee is conducting business in the city, but in no event shall it continue for more than one year from the date of its issuance. Such license shall be prominently displayed in a conspicuous place on the premises where business is being conducted. Further, each licensee and each assistant, if any, must, at the licensee's sole expense obtain a photo identification badge from the city secretary, or his authorized representative, showing the individual's name, the address wherein the vending business is to be conducted, and the effective period of the license.

(i)

Insurance or bond required. Before any license shall be issued under the provisions of this article, the application therefore shall be accompanied by a bond or insurance policy in an amount not less than $50,000.00 acceptable to the city secretary to cover any and all property damage, injuries, including injury resulting in death, or wrongful fraudulent or illegal conduct of the vendor while conducting business in the city. The bond or insurance policy shall remain in full force and effect during the entire duration of the license as provided in this article and one year thereafter.

(j)

Temporary vending license—Special events. Vendors wishing to conduct business at any special event shall apply to the city for a temporary vending license. Application for such a license must be made at least seven days prior to the beginning of the event. The license is valid only for the duration of the special event or the expiration of five days, whichever comes first. The fee for issuance of a temporary vending license shall be $60.00 payable to the city secretary at the time of issuance. Vendors granted a temporary license shall be subject to the same application and operating regulations as other vendors, except where otherwise specified.

(k)

Exemptions. The following vendors are exempt from the fee provisions of subsection (f) together with subsections (i) and (j) of this article but shall otherwise be required to comply with all other provisions:

(1)

Religious, nonprofit, philanthropic and/or charitable organizations including, but not limited to, public or private schools.

(2)

Any individual selling newspapers or magazines, or distributing free samples from his or her person.

(3)

Any individual that sells goods and services on the property or a parking lot of an existing business open to the general public during business hours of the business. Provided the individual has filed an application with the city secretary and provides documentation authorizing the individual to sell goods and services on the property.

(l)

Restrictions applicable to all vendors.

(1)

Stands. Vendor stands shall not:

a.

Exceed 20 feet in length, ten feet in width or 13 feet in height;

b.

Impede access to the entrance or driveway of any adjacent building;

c.

Occupy more than half of the available sidewalk width or 20 feet of such sidewalk, whichever is less.

(2)

Hours of operation. Except for the vending of food or dinks from a motor vehicle or other non-stationary means within construction, manufacturing or similar areas in the manner specified in subsection (8) below, vendors shall be allowed to engage in the business of vending only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All vending stands must be removed during non-vending hours. When temporary vending permits are issued for special events under the provisions of subsection (j) above, the applicant may request from the city an exception to the usual hours of operation. All stands and other vending operations must be removed during non-operating hours.

(3)

Handicapped areas. No vendor shall conduct business within 20 feet of any handicapped parking space or access ramp.

(4)

Removal of trash. All trash or debris accumulating within 50 feet of any vending stand shall be collected by the vendor and deposited in an authorized trash container. All vendors selling food or beverages must provide trash receptacles adjacent to or as a part of their stands.

(5)

Prohibited areas. A vending license issued pursuant to this section is valid only on specified public ways or in public places of the City of Terrell. The city shall prohibit vendors from selling on specified public ways or in public places if it determines such prohibitions are necessary for the protection of public health and safety. Vendor stands and motor vehicles are prohibited within 20 feet of a fire hydrant, fire escape, loading zone, or the driveway of a fire station, police station or hospital.

(6)

Noise. No vendor may sound any device, which produces a loud and raucous noise, or use or operate any loudspeaker, public address system, radio sound amplifier, or similar device to attract public attention.

(7)

Monthly reports. All vendors shall provide a copy of their monthly report of sales tax receipts to the city secretary.

(8)

Motor vehicles. No vendor vending from a motor vehicle shall:

a.

Stop, stand or park the vehicle within 20 feet of any intersection, within any other prohibited area, or during prohibited hours;

b.

Conduct business in such a way as would increase traffic congestion or delay, constitute a hazard to life or property, interfere with an abutting property owner, or obstruct access to emergency vehicles.

(m)

Denial, suspension or revocation of license.

(1)

Any license issued under this section may be denied, suspended or revoked for any of the following reasons:

a.

Fraud or misrepresentation in the application or this license;

b.

Fraud or misrepresentation in the course of conducting the business of vending;

c.

Conducting the business of vending in any way contrary to the provisions of this section;

d.

Conducting the business of vending in such a manner as to create a public nuisance or constitute a danger to the public health, safety or welfare;

e.

Conviction of any felony offense or any misdemeanor offense involving moral turpitude while holding a vending license from the City of Terrell or for a period of five years prior to the date of the application for a vending license;

f.

Suspension or cancellation of health department authorization for a food and beverage vending unit.

(2)

Upon denial, suspension or revocation, the city shall deliver written notice to the applicant/license holder stating the action taken and the reasons supporting such action. The written notice shall be delivered to the applicant/license holder's place of business or mailed to the applicant/license holder's last known address.

(n)

Renewals. Licenses may be renewed, provided an application for renewal and license fees are received by the city no later than the expiration date of the current license. Applications received after that date shall be processed as new applications. They city shall review each application for renewal to determine that the applicant is in full compliance with the provisions of this section. If the city finds that the application meets the above requirements, the city shall renew said license for a period of one year upon payment of all applicable license fees.

(o)

Appeals. Any person who is denied a license or whose license has been suspended or revoked may appeal same by filing a written notice of appeal to the Terrell City Council. All appeals must be filed with the city secretary within ten days after notice of denial, suspension or revocation of a license. The appeal shall be heard by the Terrell City Council within 30 days after receipt. At least five days' notice of the date of the hearing shall be given to the applicant, license holder. Based on the hearing of the appeal and the facts relative thereto, the city council will either sustain or reverse the decision to deny, suspend or revoke the license. The decision of the city council shall be final.

(p)

Penalties. Violation of any application provision of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00 and each day that any violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. However, an offense related to any provision related to any provision of this chapter which also constitutes an offense to state law shall be punishable in accordance with the applicable state law.

(Ord. No. 1680, 6-2-92; Ord. No. 2058, § I, 4-17-01; Ord. No. 2156, Art. I, 3-18-03; Ord. No. 2201, Art. I, 10-21-03; Ord. No. 2202, § I, 10-21-03; Ord. No. 2562, Art. I, 2-19-13)