Miguel Lopez, president of the Mobile Food Vendor Association, speaks with Fresno Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Luis Chavez in March 2022. Photos by Edward Smith

Fresno Councilmembers Analisa Perea and Miguel Arias have partnered to start a Tower District sidewalk vending pilot program to support street vendors and enhance their safety.

The new initiative, set to start on Aug. 1, aims to create a safer environment while establishing clear procedures for sidewalk vendors, according to the councilmembers.

The designated vending zone will encompass the Tower District’s business corridor situated south of McKinley avenue, west of Blackstone avenue, north of Belmont avenue, and east of Palm Avenue.

Sidewalk vendors will be permitted to operate from 5 pm to 1:30 a.m. Thursday to Sunday. Vendors will be required to vacate the area by 2 a.m., aligning with the same closing time as local brick-and-mortar businesses, according to a news release.

Vendors will not be allowed to operate within 50 feet of establishments selling food until after they have closed. No vending will be allowed within 100 feet of residential areas.

The Associacion de Vendedores Ambulantes de Fresno, a group formed with help from the city in 2021 to help protect and empower mobile food vendors, was consulted and support the program, according to the release.

“By fostering an environment of collaboration and economic growth, we believe this pilot program will not only enhance the vibrancy of the Tower District but also serve as a model or future initiatives aimed at empowering local businesses and creating a stronger, more prosperous Fresno,” Perea said in a statement.

Over the past year, 14 violent incidents have occurred in the Tower District, according to the release.

“We anticipate a positive outcome from this pilot program, including improved safety measures and a boost in opportunities for local vendors in the Tower District,” Arias said in a statement.