SDOT presented a proposal to add staff and funding to address unpermitted vending in areas with high event activity, evenings and weekends. The department described the approach as education-first: outreach and assistance with the street-use permitting process before escalating to citations or abatement for repeat noncompliance.

Council members asked whether the new inspectors would function as compliance navigators or punitive enforcers. SDOT said the new positions will provide evening and weekend coverage where enforcement had been reduced during the pandemic; the department emphasized it sees vending as a low-barrier path to entrepreneurship and seeks to help vendors come into compliance.

"We approach things with education first, making sure that there's a permit process and how we can streamline those things, before we even do citation," Director Emery told the committee while describing the added coverage for event hours when illegal vending has surged. SDOT said the program will prioritize outreach, then citations, and abatement of equipment for repeated violations.

Ending: SDOT committed to follow up with council offices on how the street-use permitting process can be made more accessible and to report back on implementation of evening and weekend enforcement staff. No formal action was taken by the committee at the presentation.