Taking on transient vendor issue

The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the City of Sisters, will conduct a town hall meeting on Tuesday, October 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Hall, to discuss the permitting process for transient vendors within the city limits of Sisters.

All interested parties are invited to attend.

The discussion will provide information about the purpose, current permitting requirements, fees, enforcement practices and additional rules pertaining to transient vendor permits (including the legal issues associated with permitting transient-vendor activity within the city). City representatives will also discuss the differences between transient vendor permits, special event permits, and conditional use permits.

It will also provide an opportunity for local merchants, vendors and special event organizers to weigh in on transient vendor permit procedures and suggest possible changes for the City of Sisters to consider.

"This meeting will give merchants, event organizers, and vendors an opportunity to understand the permitting process and to propose changes to the city council on existing rules and regulations in an organized format," said Chamber Executive Director, Erin Borla.

"This has been an issue for several years," Borla said.

Some merchants dislike having transient vendors in town.

"There's questions about how they can come here on the busiest days of the year and take advantage of the influx of people and not have to be here and sustain themselves through the year," Borla said.

On the other hand, some merchants and property owners benefit by leasing space to vendors.

Transient vendors are allowed within the Sisters city limits by ordinance of the Sisters City Council. However, the city is prohibited from allowing preference or showing favoritism for certain types of vendors or local vendors. The city has been repeatedly advised by its legal counsel that doing so would be a violation of the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.

There have been discussions over the course of the past several years about modifying the existing transient-vendor permitting process through the City of Sisters. A full report of the meeting will be given to the city council for its consideration.

"This is an opportunity for both sides to come together," Borla said. "We are hoping for a solution-oriented town hall."

For more information contact Borla at 549-0251.