After relatively smooth progress two weeks ago, Reggie Brown’s bill to regulate food trucks stalled out Monday.
The City Council member said his expectations were “a lot higher” for the workshop that ultimately failed to bring conclusions on distance requirements between food trucks and “brick-and-mortar” restaurants, zoning and enforcement.
“I was a little surprised,” he said.
He placed blame on city staff for being unprepared after “takeaways” from a March 12 workshop, which departments handle enforcement and zoning questions, and a lack of involvement from the Downtown Investment Authority.
David DeCamp, Mayor Alvin Brown’s spokesman, said there have been no complaints passed along about staff and more than half-dozen departments and division heads have worked on the issue with the council member.
After little-to-no contention between the mobile vendors and their brick-and-mortar counterparts last time, there was a little tension in the room when several Downtown restaurant owners voiced their concerns.
“We want Downtown to be the way it could be,” said Diane Rukab, owner of The Brick Coffee House.
But, she said, there needs to be caution that any movement doesn’t stop the growth of brick-and-mortar business.
She noted, though, “there is a place for everybody,” especially at night.
Adams Street Deli & Grill owner Nader Zarou said afterward that a limit on the number of food trucks Downtown would make a difference on how the urban core businesses are affected — and whether the groups could co-exist, a push Brown repeatedly said he wanted to see.
One move Brown said caused him “heartburn” was a pilot program that allows food trucks in Hemming Plaza on Thursdays and Fridays. But, the talk of ending the program was quickly met with opposition Instead, Brown said he wanted to see a zone or a parking lot where food trucks could be, possibly created by the Downtown Investment Authority.
He said afterward he wanted more buy-in from the authority, too. Brown previously said he thought the food truck issue should be handled based on citywide, Downtown and special events sections.
Without the authority taking the lead on its area, though, Brown said he would.
“We are going to create legislation,” he said. “The DIA can be a part of it or they can live with it.”
Brown said he talked to Guy Parola, the authority’s new redevelopment manager, after the meeting and hoped the “seriousness” of the issue would mean action.
Another workshop is planned for April 7.
Brown said he wants to be able to take finalized information to the council’s Public Health and Safety Committee soon after.
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