City of Thousand Oaks plans for municipal code change with new state law allowing sidewalk vendors

(Thousand Oaks, Ca) When a state law prohibits local governments from enacting certain regulations, the state law prevails, otherwise known as state preemption.

In the most recent example of preemption, the City of Thousand Oaks will be updating its municipal code to comply with state laws that go into effect in the coming year.

As of January 1, 2019, SB 946, also known as the California Sidewalk Vendor Law, will require all cities to support and facilitate sidewalk vendors. This will be a change for Thousand Oaks, as most sidewalk sales are currently prohibited under the City’s public vending regulations.

In preparation for the new rules, an update to the City’s municipal code so will go before Council on November 13, 2018.

According to the National League of Cities (NLC), preemption is a nationwide issue and can be complex.

In a report entitled, “City Rights in an Era of Preemption:A State-by-State Analysis” the NLC writes, “In this updated 2018 edition … we are continuing to observe aggressive moves by state legislatures nationwide to usurp local authority. Ultimately, people who live in cities want control over their own destinies.”

Thousand Oaks City Council meeting can be viewed online at TOTV or in person at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Scherr Forum.

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