12 - Amend Zoning Ordinance to establish regulations for mobile food units and food truck parks

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Item No. 12 memorandum TO: Mayor & City Council John Godwin, City Manager FROM: Carla Easton, PE, City Engineer SUBJECT: REGULATIONS REGARDING MOBILE FOOD TRUCKS DATE: May 7, 2019 BACKGROUND: Mobile food units (or food trucks) have been a growing trend across the country since the late 2000s, and the food truck boom arrived in Paris over the last three to five years. City staff receives questions regarding food trucks on a recurring basis, but unfortunately we do not have regulations for this as a land use. With so many trucks operating in our city, it is becoming increasingly important to establish regulations to protect not only the patrons of these establishments (our citizens), but also our local stock of brick and mortar food establishments who invest in traditional development. STATUS OF ISSUE: The 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update acknowledges the need for zoning regulations associated with food trucks and food truck parks, with recommendation 15.12 - Establish means to appropriately manage mobile food vendors. In order to protect existing land uses while safely and appropriately accommodating this popular trend, staff recommends consideration and approval of modifications to the Zoning Ordinance regarding regulations of mobile food units within the City. The draft ordinance includes definitions, requirements for locations and operations, and specific regulations to establish a food truck park. On April 17th, staff met with a group of food truck owners to discuss the proposed ordinance and gather feedback. Ten stakeholders were present, representing eight different mobile food establishments. The following revisions have been made to the draft ordinance as a result of the meeting: 1. Add school districts. as acceptable location for operation (revised on page 2) 2. Provide for catering operations for private events (revised on page 2) 3. Provide specific insurance requirements for permit (revised on page 2) 4. Clarify the restroom requirement for temporary locations (revised on page 4) At the conclusion of the meeting, none of the stakeholders spoke in opposition of adopting these regulations.