City Council member Reggie Brown’s idea in late February to regulate food trucks led to pushback from the industry, followed by a series of mixed-results meetings in a search for compromise.
After Monday, Brown and the food truck community are close to finalizing a bill that could be introduced by April 22.
“From where we started, at this point it’s a 180,” said Brown.
The bill would specifically add food trucks — or mobile food dispensing vendors as they technically are called — to city code for regulatory and enforcement purposes.
Some of the keys to the bill:
• They can vend on most residential, commercial and industrial properties with the written permission of the landowner. They can’t impair or interfere with pedestrian or vehicle traffic and there are specific distance restrictions from areas like crosswalks and bus stops.
• Other than Downtown and city parks, they can’t be within 100 feet of the front door of any permanent business that sells the same type of products and services, unless they have written permission by that business owner. Hours of operation can be 6 a.m.-3 a.m.
• Food trucks Downtown can’t be within 50 feet of the front door of any business selling those like products for on-site consumption. Signage is restricted to a 3-foot-tall menu board. But, because Downtown is more concentrated, operation hours are unlimited. Brown worked with Downtown Investment Authority staff to come up with particulars.
• For longer-established operations, food trucks wanting to be in city parks will be asked to submit a bid when any request for proposal is issued. And for special events, the operators can apply for a temporary permit with the Parks, Recreation and Community Development Department.
Some Downtown brick-and-mortar restaurant owners have shown throughout the bill-crafting meetings apprehension to food trucks.
Felicia Patel, who owns the Quiznos near Hemming Plaza, said there weren’t enough people Downtown to have many trucks and suggested a longer distance — upward of 400 feet.
That idea wasn’t picked up, but Brown said in the coming weeks, he will spend time walking the 50-foot lines from restaurant doors to possible spots, like in Hemming Plaza, to ensure it’s acceptable.
“I want to make sure brick-and-mortar people are comfortable with the rule,” he said. “Everyone has buy-in here.”
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