Yellowknife (Feb 23/04) - A city councillor says it would be ridiculous to go another summer without street vendors selling their goods on downtown city streets.

That's why City Hall will re-visit the issue at municipal services committee meeting next month, said Coun. David McCann.

"To me it makes a whole bunch of sense," said McCann. "From my recollection no one has a problem with this."

A 1990 bylaw prevents street vendors from operating mobile canteens downtown.

Last summer, Yellowknife resident Pat Papineau tried to buy a permit from the city to sell hot dogs from a cart but was told he couldn't operate it downtown.

Papineau said he sold hot dogs throughout the summer of 1998 and was never hassled by municipal enforcement. It was only when he attempted to obtain a permit that the issue come to a head.

"I know a bylaw officer and I sold him hot dogs all the time," said Papineau.

"I don't understand the reasoning behind the bylaw." Papineau has since sold the hot dog cart.

When told Yellowknife would be taking another look at the bylaw, he said the city is finally showing "some enlightened thinking." Still, he isn't sure he wants to take another crack at operating a hot dog cart.

Coun. Wendy Bisaro said she would support allowing food vendors back into the downtown core but is worried a revised bylaw may open the door for other types of businesses to hit the streets.

"The difficulty is whether we're just talking food services or talking mobile services, period, people selling art, handicrafts, that sort of thing," said Bisaro.

"I don't think people want to see downtown cluttered with everybody and their dog selling something mobile."