The future of late-night street vending in downtown Madison may be in jeopardy if recommendations from the Vending Oversight Committee take effect. Members of the committee voted on amendments to an ordinance draft Tuesday, including creating four designated late-night vending areas and prohibiting vending in residential areas after 9 p.m.
The ordinance stems from noise complaints levied in October against Jeff Okafo, owner of Jin's Chicken and Fish, which operates during the weekend on the 200 block of Langdon Street.
The new vending areas proposed in the ordinance are State Street Mall, North Frances Street between State Street and University Avenue, North Broom Street between West Gorham Street and West Gilman Street, as well as the 100 and 300 blocks of West Johnson Street.
The committee members voted in support of the proposed vending areas and to restrict vending in residential areas from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. This restriction would prevent Okafo from operating Jin's Chicken and Fish along Langdon Street.
Okafo, who was present at the meeting, responded to the decision saying, \The problems that have brought us here to [this council meeting] are only due to when there are activities and functions that are happening on that street. The committee hasn't taken the time to actually come down, review the site where I'm located, and see how I'm conducting my business.""
The committee also voted to require street vendors to have signs and menus on their carts.
""Put yourself in the shoes of the student or worker. They don't want to stand in line for 20 minutes to find out they can't afford anything on the menu. That's very helpful during the daytime, so why not at night?"" committee member Rosemary Lee said.
Although the committee voted on the ordinance draft, it still has to be approved by the City Council before it can go into effect. Ald. Mike Verveer, Dist. 4, will present the ordinance draft before the city council Dec. 14. If approved, the ordinance should go into effect in January.
