Food vendors will not be permitted during the Mifflin Street Block Party due to numerous safety and organizational issues cited during a city meeting Wednesday.

A meeting of the Vending Oversight Committee approved Mayor Paul Soglin’s decision not to allow food vendors at the block party, after the mayor met Wednesday morning with police and city staff to weigh the possibility of allowing sales at the event.

Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf said a group of attorneys and city police looked at various options and past discussions of food vendors at the block party before ultimately decided against it.

“We have decided after weighing all the pros and cons of having food in the area … the city will not be allowing food vendors in the Mifflin area on the day of May 5,” Woulf said.

Woulf said they discussed the benefits of food vendors, ranging from decreasing the level of intoxication at the party and generating revenue the city could contribute to the party’s costs.

Discussion over food vendors came out of multiple meetings of a block party planning committee comprised of city staff, police, students and neighborhood residents, with the hope of steering the focus of the party away from alcohol.

However, Woulf said these benefits could not outweigh the issues the Madison Police Department brought up, including difficulties should police need to close and clear the street.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the city established the Southeast Campus Vending Area a few years ago, which allows for vendors with a basic vending license. He said the mayor’s decision means there will be no vendors of any kind during the block party.

Verveer said in an interview with The Badger Herald the entire Mifflin neighborhood, which also includes area up until the Kohl Center, would be off-limits to vendors on May 5, the designated date for the block party.

“The vendors could set up in parking spaces or sidewalks as close as the 300 Block of Mifflin,” Verveer said. “But this ordinance covers the main party zones of Mifflin, Bassett and Bedford.”

Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said in an interview with The Badger Herald he was very surprised when he found out about the mayor’s decision at the meeting.

He called the mayor’s decision not to take this attempt, which was backed by a group of neighborhood residents, city staff and students “unfortunate.”

“I would have like to see, as we talk about an attempt to reform the block party, to see actual ideas come to light,” Resnick said.

Verveer said this is the first year since 2009 there has not been a sponsor for the Mifflin Street Block Party. He said having a sponsor enables vendors to have special vending permits, which supersedes the determined areas where vending can take place.

He said having vendors at this year’s block party could contribute to safety and space issues and would ultimately be in the way in the event of an emergency.

Additionally, Verveer said a letter drafted by Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers was sent to the mayor Tuesday, summarizing what the block party planning committee hopes to achieve at this year’s event. Food vendors were among their suggestions.

“Diverse groups of neighborhood residents and students have been meeting with city staff for many weeks now,” Verveer said.