Council Member Jason Chavez’s letter to constituents:
Dear neighbor,
I am reaching out to you today about street vendors and the challenges neighbors have expressed. This email will include an update on the work my office has done to address this issue in a comprehensive way, the work my office will do moving forward, and what my thoughts on the issue are overall.
On Dec. 12, 2024, the Minneapolis City Council approved the City’s Budget that included a budget amendment authored by my office and Council Member Chowdhury to establish a Street Vendor Entrepreneur Support and Compliance Program. This program is meant to help street vendors get into compliance and take the ServSafe Exam.
On April 17, 2025, the Minneapolis City Council adopted a new ordinance that expanded the number of locations street vendors could operate from (expanding to the goods and services corridor). This was a collaborative effort led by my office, Council Member Chowdhury, City Staff, MIRAC, Minnesota Immigrant Movement, Street Vendors, and community members. It was a recognition that the previous ordinance was outdated and prohibitive.
A very crowded corner, adding new vendors.
On June 5, 2025, I authored an amendment to the 2025 License Fee Schedule to reduce the yearly permit cost for sidewalk food cart licenses from $719 to $63. This was in response to engagement with food vendors about how expensive a permit costs and its impact on compliance. Many residents in our neighborhoods have asked us to address compliance and this was also in response to that.
On July 29, 2025, the first cohort of the City’s Street Vendor Entrepreneur Support and Compliance Program was launched, which was funded by the city and led by the Healthy Roots Institute. The first course was taught in Spanish and the materials were translated.
As of Oct. 2, 2025, the program has been successful. A variety of street vendors have taken the ServSafe exam and, as a result, many have passed. This is an accomplishment worth celebrating as the exam was not easy. I 
continue to hear that more vendors want to take classes, but the funding for the program is not enough for any more classes. I will prioritize this in the budget. I am sharing this update because it is important to recognize the efforts made by many street vendors who are taking classes and passing these exams to get into compliance.
I’ve heard concerns about individuals dumping oil on the drains. Many street vendors have come together to communicate with the individual(s) to stop. We will continue to share these concerns. But I will let you all know that I do not know every single street vendor in Minneapolis, which includes Powderhorn Park. I do not want false expectations to be made that I should know every immigrant street vendor just like I do not know every single Ward 9 resident.
In many instances, I have heard from food vendors that they feel safer and would prefer to vend in parks. However, the process with MPRB needs to improve. Currently, a permit fee costs $35 on weekdays and $100 on weekends (at the park) making it difficult for low-income residents to participate. I strongly believe that MPRB needs to put Powderhorn Park on their list of permitted locations and that they need to adopt a policy for a yearly permit, like in Minneapolis, which is also affordable. My office has met with MPRB and has shared how important it is to make these permits accessible. I think this could help address a lot of the tension between neighbors and food vendors.
I did want to let you all know that Mayor Frey’s administration has made it clear that the next level of enforcement for unlicensed vendors will involve criminal citations, discarding of food, and possibly taking vendor equipment. I do not support this punitive approach that could lead to the deportation of immigrants and will impact their immigration status. However, this approach will still happen despite my thoughts on this issue.
An immediate solution that does not involve criminalization while alleviating the concerns of the community would be to allow vendors into the park and address community concerns. I’ve also made a request to city staff for trash cans and traffic control agents, given the safety issues going on in the neighborhood. I will keep you updated as I hear more. I take the issues about livability and unsafe traffic congestion seriously, so I hope my request is approved. I am also open to other ideas.
I have scheduled a meeting with street vendors on Oct. 12.
I will be dropping off flyers and meeting with vendors to engage with those who I do not know. At this time, I do not feel comfortable inviting neighbors to a meeting with vendors unless community agreements are set in place and commitments are made that everyone will be respectful. If you would like to schedule a phone call with me, or even a meeting, I will have my staff find time to meet with you.
As your City Council Member, I am trying to find solutions that are balanced and respect the dignity of everyone. But I do feel the need to mention that in many conversations with some neighbors I have faced my own experience with micro-aggressions and racism related to this topic. Whether it is comments that street vendors “pretend” to not understand English, that they should be deported because they don’t stop selling food and neighbors are fed up, that vendors aren’t “poor” and they only want “sympathy,” and this is not even including vendors own experiences with racism and the conversations my office fields and comments directed towards the Ward 9 office.
I will follow up with specific metrics on the result of the food vendor program I helped start, the results of my asks to city staff, and my meeting with street vendors.
Best,
Jason Chavez He/Him
Minneapolis City Council Member – Ward 9
Chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee
Chair of the Committee of the Whole
