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Two Rivers reviews draft ordinance to regulate food trucks, vendors at beach lots
Summary
Council reviewed a markup of a draft ordinance (Section 6-49) regulating vendors from vehicles at city parks and downtown; discussion focused on hours, insurance, registration, a seasonal permit area in Lot 1 at Sugar Beach, and limits on vehicles and lines that could block parking.
The Two Rivers City Council reviewed a draft ordinance amending Section 6-49 of the municipal code on March 3 to regulate "vendors from special vehicles," including food trucks at Sugar Beach (Choteau Park) and Walsh Field.
City staff presented the draft as a markup of the existing code so council members could offer feedback before the ordinance returns for final action. The draft retains requirements that vehicle vendors register as direct sellers with the police department, carry a current driver's license and meet insurance requirements. The proposed changes add limits on operating hours, restrictions in parks and on specified downtown streets, and a seasonal-permit option for a designated area of the southernmost beach parking lot (referred to in the packet as Lot 1).
The draft includes a proposed rule that "no vehicle used by a vendor can be operated for the purpose of sales prior to 10 a.m." and that vendors generally stop operations no later than half an hour after sunset, with the council retaining discretion to allow exceptions for special events. The draft also envisions a seasonal permit the parks and recreation director could issue that would allow a vehicle to park and sell from a designated area in Lot 1; staff noted the space would be marked and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Mathis discussed placement in Lot 1 and possible spacing to avoid lines that block parking or impede people with strollers or mobility devices. "There should be enough space or 3 in that area we're designating, but it's...first come first served," Mathis said, adding that staff would try to keep vendor service lines from spilling into the rest of the lot.
Council members asked for a clearer map of Lot 1 to appear in the packet and discussed whether the city should limit the number of permitted vehicles in the seasonal area (two or three vehicles were mentioned). Staff said insurance, registration and background checks for vendors remain unchanged from current code; the markup seeks only to add location, timing and permit elements.
No formal vote was taken March 3; staff said the ordinance will be revised with council feedback and returned for future action.
Key clarifying details from the discussion include the proposed 10 a.m. start time for commercial operations, a half-hour after sunset end time with council exceptions for events, the seasonal-permit concept for Lot 1 (southernmost beach lot), and an informal expectation of limiting vehicles and marking a designated area to reduce lines and safety concerns.
