By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — The city of Warsaw’s Plan Office is considering adjusting fees for street vendors.
The move was prompted by a complaint from a businesswoman, Zoie Bella, who does embroidery work and sells tye-dye clothing in the back of a refurbished bus.
Bella parked her bus in the old Marsh supermarket parking lot in Warsaw earlier this month but was forced to shut down because she lacked a permit, and was then astonished to see that it would cost her — an out-of-county resident — $1,000 for the right to set up shop in Warsaw for a year.
According to her own research, Bella said the Warsaw vendor rates are comparatively higher than in most other surrounding communities.
“I think it is the highest in the state of Indiana — I do,” Bella said.
“Indianapolis, Carmel, all of those are even cheaper. Fort Wayne is cheaper, South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Goshen — they’re all like $200 and below,” she said.
Bella said she thinks Warsaw’s fee should be comparable with others.
On the other hand, Bella said Columbia City’s fee is $500.
City Planner Justin Taylor said the plan office will look at several issues including offering Bella a variance on her fee request. That would go before the city board of works for consideration.
Taylor said he’s also looking at long-term changes and is open to considering adjusting the fee structure for vendors.
Taylor points out that the fees are intended to protect the interests of brick-and-mortar businesses that are heavily invested in the community.
He said he wants to look into what other communities are charging.
“We want to strike that balance (and) see what’s fair for everybody,” Taylor said.
The city fees use a graduating scale and are based on where the vendor lives.
Vendors from out of state are charged $100 a day or $3,000 for a year. Those living outside the county (but inside the state) are charged $50 a day or $1,000 for a year.
Vendors living in Kosciusko County pay $5 a day or a $300 annual fee.
Bella has a residence in Claypool and briefly had a store in Mentone last year, but said all of her business records for Brain Washed ’70s use an address in Marshall County where she grew up.
Much of her business activities, though, happen in Kosciusko County, she said.
Taylor said he’s also considering the concept of creating a zone specific for vendors where they could all gather for the same purpose.
One such location, he said, could be the old Marsh parking lot, which regularly accommodates a well-established barbecue vendor, Steve Sands.
“I think it’s definitely possible — any site that we’re looking to redevelop so I think Marsh would be a good candidate,” he said.
Taylor said he wants to discuss the ideas with local stakeholders, but no specific meetings have been announced.
