Iowa City Council discusses Iowa football gameday vendors

IOWA CITY – The City Council Monday night voiced no major reservations with establishing a permit system for vendors who operate on Melrose Avenue on Iowa football game days.

That would seem to clear the way for a compromise on how to handle the couple of dozen food and apparel booths that have been popular with football fans for years.

The council Tuesday night is to hold a public hearing and have the first of three votes necessary to pass the ordinance.

City staff in April had recommended banning the vendors, saying that they had safety concerns, that the residential neighborhood was not zoned for commercial uses and that there have been complaints from some area residents over trash and noise.

The council has made clear it's not interested in an outright prohibition, however. Instead, the council will vote on issuing temporary-use permits that would cost $75 for the season.

Vendors would be required to have insurance and health permits, keep the area around them clean, stay clear of sidewalks and the street and follow other regulations.

Alcohol could not be sold or otherwise made available to the public, which would prevent commercial tailgates. The regulations would not apply to regular tailgaters.

The University of Iowa's role, as the host of football games, in keeping the area clean also has been an issue. Doug Boothroy, Iowa City's director of housing and inspection services, said the UI is considering putting more portable toilets and trash containers in the area.

“It's a step in the right direction, and I think they should be commended for that,” he said.

The vendors would be restricted to the area south of Kinnick Stadium between the railroad bridge on Melrose Avenue and Melrose Circle, which is roughly where they have operated in the past.

Boothroy said vendors have spoken favorably of the proposal, which received the backing of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. If the new measures are approved, city staff will meet with vendors and property owners before the season to go over the new rules, he said.

Monday night's council meeting was a work session and no public comment was taken.

Violating the provisions would result in a civil citation and the loss of the permit.