Monterey moving forward with rule changes to sidewalk vending

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) - The Monterey City Council is moving forward with changes to the city's sidewalk vending ordinance after a unanimous vote at a meeting last night.

Some of the proposed changes include reducing the required distance between vendors to 10 feet, restricting unattended equipment, and limiting display heights to between 28 and 60 inches.

This reading of the ordinance was originally scheduled for May, but the issue was tabled to allow city staff to discuss terms with attorneys representing the Monterey vendor association.

Despite this, vendors in public comment were frustrated by the changes, some saying the city made no compromises in their decision.

Mayor Tyller Williamson voiced his disappointment in the civility of discussions in public comment tonight, saying that people need to stay civil even when speaking with people they disagree with, mainly pointing at vendors that came to the meeting to show their displeasure with the changes to the ordinance.