May 16, 2006 9:39 am US/Mountain

Provo Law Prohibits Snow Cone Sales Until June 1
Temperatures are in the mid-80s, but don't look for a refreshing shave-ice treat in Provo until next month.

The city prohibits its sale before June 1.

Taylor Headman, 14, hoped to open her shave-ice stand early this year for extra money but then discovered the ordinance.

"It's kind of a dumb law, I think," said Taylor, who wanted to open a stand in time to raise money for an upcoming class trip.

Her father, Justin, a Provo firefighter, and others called this spring to complain about the ordinance.

Mayor Lewis Billings told the council about the issue at a recent meeting.

"I thought it was stupid," Billing said. "Why do we care if they sell (shave ice) before June 1?"

Councilwoman Cindy Clark, who with other city officials did not know why June 1 was made the start of the shave-ice season, said, "I think by next year we need to change that law."

Normal procedure would start with a hearing of the Planning Commission, which would then recommend an amendment to the City Council.

The mayor doesn't want to wait that long.

"Since we feel like there is pending legislation on shaved ice, we're not going to enforce the ordinance," Billings said.

Hawaii is the birthplace of shave ice, often incorrectly called "shaved ice" and sometimes mistaken for snow cones.

A snow cone is made of ice ground into chunks that don't hold the syrup, which pools in the bottom of the paper cone, the shave-ice aficionados say. Shave ice is shaved off a big block into a powder or small flakes that is easier to eat and absorbs the syrup, they say.

"It's like snow, so you can eat it instead of like ice, which you have to suck on," Taylor said. "There's more flavor and it's definitely sweeter."