PHOENIX (AP) — As a child growing up in Scottsdale, Leo Blavin missed out on the summer ritual of ordering treats from the neighborhood ice-cream truck.
The city outlawed street vendors in the 1970s out of concerns they could sell illegal drugs and posed a safety threat to children darting into the street to buy treats.
Aware of a shortage of ice-cream vendors in the community, Blavin, 17, and his father, Paul Blavin, decided to launch an ice-cream-truck business last fall.
They found out later that their truck would be off limits in Scottsdale. Most other Valley cities allow the trucks.
"I knew there was a desire, not knowing it was illegal at the time," Leo Blavin said.
Blavin, who operates Leo's Ice Cream, has urged Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane to lift the ban, and the mayor has listened.
As a result, Scottsdale has crafted a proposed ordinance that would allow the mobile operators along residential streets, as long as they serve prepared food that doesn't require heat. The law would apply mainly to frozen treats.
But not everyone is sweet on the proposal. The ordinance, nicknamed "Leo's Law," has drawn icy resistance from some residents who say it could lead to more street noise, accidents involving children and criminals casing neighborhoods to scope out vacant homes.
At an open house July 24, about 15 residents opposed the change.
"The last thing I want is some guy going in an ice-cream truck up and down the same streets, knowing somebody is on vacation," said Scottsdale resident Art Lorenzen.
A second open house on July 25 drew a crowd of about 40 people who were split on the idea of ending the ban, said J.P. Twist, Lane's chief of staff.
Twist said the city wants to know what residents think and hear suggestions on how to improve the ordinance, which could go before the City Council later this year.
As it stands now, street vendors are allowed in Scottsdale on private properties and during special events with permits.
Sgt. Mark Clark, a Scottsdale police spokesman, confirmed that police and city-code enforcement would be responsible for enforcing the law if it passes.
Past Republic reports show that Phoenix has dealt with unlicensed ice-cream vendors and collisions involving children and ice-cream trucks, mainly in central and west-central Phoenix. Clark said Scottsdale has not experienced any complaints or accidents involving children in the past year.
Supporters of lifting the ban have accused opponents of overreacting.
"Kids are waiting for the ice cream, and it isn't fair to deny them just because we old fuddy-duddies are afraid of everything," said resident Judy Brzosko.
Most cities require vendors to obtain some sort of license to operate an ice-cream truck, and some require background checks and fingerprinting. Scottsdale's law, as written now, would require all three.
Officials said the regulations are needed since some illegal vending occurs in the city, with inconsistencies in enforcement.
To further tackle concerns, Scottsdale included provisions in the law such as prohibiting trucks from playing music while stopped or lingering in one location for more than an hour.
Hours of operation would be limited to sunrise to sunset, though residents have suggested the city tighten the hours even further, Twist said.
To prevent trucks from roaming the same neighborhoods, Scottsdale is considering requiring vendors to register their routes.
"That way, we can be sure not to have multiple trucks in one neighborhood at one time," Twist said. "This would also allow residents to know the name and contact information for the ice-cream man registered in their area."
Anyone with a burglary conviction could be automatically denied a license, he said.
The next step, city officials said, is to reach out to parents through parent-teacher organizations, though no meetings are scheduled yet.
Blavin, who sells ice cream at corporate events, festivals and the Arcadia neighborhood in east Phoenix, said he started his business after growing up without ice-cream trucks.
"I just thought there was definitely a need and desire," he said.
Responding to the concerns about the ordinance, Blavin said it is better to regulate street vendors than not. He considers the ban "anti-business."
"We should be looking to encourage small businesses and do that by regulating business, rather than completely banning them," Blavin said.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com