Residents urge Gautier to adopt food-truck ordinance to expand markets and events

During the public comment portion of the Feb. 4, 2025 Gautier City Council meeting, residents urged the council to adopt a formal food-truck and trailer ordinance to expand vending beyond occasional events such as Tasty Thursday and the community market.

Gary Chambliss (listed as Chambers in the meeting record), speaking for his daughter Jessica McBeath and Mississippi Buds Cakes LLC, said the business is licensed, bonded and insured and would like the city to allow regular food-truck permits rather than requiring sponsors and special-event approvals. "We would like to see us be able to go beyond the Tasty Thursday to maybe have a Food Truck Friday," he said.

Chambliss and council members acknowledged competing interests: some brick-and-mortar restaurant owners previously opposed a food-truck ordinance because of perceived unfair competition. Miss Shancy, a city staff member, invited proponents to meet with city management and engage restaurant owners to try to reach a compromise. "We do need to have some meetings because you also gotta engage our restaurants, our brick and mortar," she said.

Council members encouraged the petitioner to work with staff; the mayor noted staff had received the email and said the city would follow up. The meeting record does not show that the council took formal action on an ordinance; rather, staff offered to meet with interested vendors and stakeholders to explore options.

Commenters highlighted potential economic benefits for small entrepreneurs and the need for clear permitting to allow vendors to operate without repeatedly relying on special-event sponsorship.