AURORA — The ice-cream seller with music blaring from a white truck may be back on Aurora streets. So, too, could be the neighborhood “paletero,” strolling by city parks selling Mexican ice cream.
Aurora is one of the few cities in the metro area that prohibit either from hawking their wares on residential streets.
The city may consider repealing an ordinance that goes back almost 50 years, to allow the vendors on neighborhood streets. For now, officials are devising a pilot program for the City Council to consider that, if successful, could be good news for ice-cream lovers and sellers.
“It just seems like an all-American tradition to be able to get ice cream from a truck on a hot summer day,” said City Councilman Larry Beer, who introduced the idea.
A previous City Council considered doing away with the ban seven years ago, but did not, citing safety issues such as kids darting out into the street and the nuisance of constant music.
Nancy Sheffield, director of neighborhood services for Aurora, said the pilot program could be restricted to certain parts of the city. Then officials would study whether there had been any accidents related to the ice-cream trucks and make a decision on whether to allow the peddling of frozen treats permanently.
All ice-cream-truck vendors and others who push carts selling the frozen goods would have to be licensed or receive permits. Cities including Denver, Lakewood, Thornton, Westminster and Longmont allow ice-cream trucks in residential areas. Commerce City does not.
Councilman Brad Pierce was initially against the idea, citing safety concerns, but is willing to give it a try.
“We want to make sure the kids are safe, the drivers are safe, so we don’t create an accident waiting to happen,” said Pierce. “Let the trucks in the city through a permit process, then after two years, look to see how many traffic infractions or safety issues there are.”
There are some cultural issues involved, as well. In many Latin American countries, someone pushing an ice-cream cart near parks is a common sight, as many gather on weekends and after work there.
The same holds true for Latino neighborhoods in metro Denver. On a recent afternoon, several people were keeping cool by eating ice cream at Lincoln Park near downtown Denver.
“Es bueno,” said Raymondo Martinez as he enjoyed his coconut treat.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
