St. Louis committee holds off on Board Bill 14 after widespread concerns on enforcement and business impacts

The Special Committee on Reducing Red Tape on Monday heard more than an hour of testimony and delayed action on Board Bill 14, an ordinance sponsor Alderman Rashine Aldrich introduced to revise Chapter 8 of the St. Louis Revised Code and expand where and how mobile food vendors may operate in St. Louis City.

The committee heard business groups, neighborhood representatives and vendors describe widespread support for food trucks as small-business opportunities but raised repeated concerns about enforcement, public safety, unfair competition with brick-and-mortar restaurants and inadequate notice of recent changes to the draft ordinance. “I request that you defer action on board bill 14 in present form in order to allow sufficient time for continued negotiation and refinement of the bill,” said James Dwyer, who testified in opposition.

Why it matters: The measure would replace some existing local vending districts with a citywide vending district limited to streets “within or immediately adjacent to zoning districts F through L,” add a definition for “mobile food court,” and create a process for the Streets Department to publish an annual map of vending zones and a portal for complaints. Supporters say the changes update a decade-old framework; opponents say the bill lacks clear enforcement mechanisms and would permit vending in high-rent commercial corridors without adequate protections for existing restaurants.

Most important facts - Sponsor and scope: Alderman Rashine Aldrich introduced Board Bill 14 to amend Chapter 8 of the St. Louis Revised Code and to use the term “mobile food vendor” rather than “food truck.” Aldrich said the measure reflects months of stakeholder negotiations and a working group convened with Greater St. Louis Inc., restaurant representatives, business improvement districts and city departments. - Zoning limit and buffer: The draft narrows vending to streets in commercial/industrial zoning (zoning districts F through L). The version discussed in committee sets a 100-foot radius restriction requiring that mobile vendors be at least 100 feet from the entrance of brick-and-mortar food establishments; vendors may operate closer only with written consent from the business owner. - Parks and hours: The bill would allow vending in city parks on Fridays during set blocks (an example cited in the hearing was 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4 p.m.–park curfew) provided the Streets Department coordinates scheduling and cleanup; vendors must still obtain permits and follow rules set by the Department of Health and Streets. - Enforcement and rules: Multiple witnesses and committee members said enforcement is unclear. Casey Milberg, policy director in the mayor’s office, told the committee that the city already has a set of vendor rules and regulations dating to 2011 and that those rules (which include licensing, insurance, trash plans, health permits, and minimum sidewalk clearance) would be updated if the ordinance passes. Still, several business and neighborhood speakers asked that enforcement processes, penalties and responsible agencies be spelled out in ordinance language rather than deferred to department rulemaking.

Public testimony and stakeholder concerns Several downtown and neighborhood business representatives urged the committee to delay final action so the working group could finish negotiations and address enforcement. Matt O’Leary, representing Downtown North STL, said the committee substitute was posted online only minutes before the hearing and argued that Board of Aldermen Rule 67.2 requires distribution at least 24 hours before a public hearing. “Given this, I don’t believe this committee has the authority to pass the committee substitute out today,” O’Leary said.

Kate Heger, executive director of the Central West End Business Community Improvement District, and James Page, executive director of the St. Louis Downtown Neighborhood Association, asked the committee to retain buffer protections and add enforcement language, arguing restaurants remain financially vulnerable after the pandemic.

Several residents described problems they say have occurred where vendors operate without oversight, including late-night noise, grease and trash, and alleged illegal activity at some locations. Amber Cole said parks vendors had created access problems and that local enforcement resources were stretched.

Committee actions and next steps Committee members adopted a committee substitute and an amendment during the hearing but then moved to reconsider earlier votes after several speakers and stakeholders said the substitute had not been posted in time. After deliberation the sponsor asked that Board Bill 14 be held in committee so stakeholders and city departments could continue to refine language; the chair announced that the bill will be held and that the sponsor and chair will schedule further meetings later in the week.

What was decided and what remains open - Decision: The committee held Board Bill 14 in committee pending further edits, clarifications and scheduling of additional meetings. - Open issues: precise enforcement authority and funding, the detailed penalty schedule for violations, a final, posted rules-and-regulations package from Streets and Health, precise definitions for “mobile food vendor” versus other vendor types, and notice/posting timelines to satisfy Rule 67.2.

Quotes from the hearing "I request that you defer action on board bill 14 in present form in order to allow sufficient time for continued negotiation and refinement of the bill," said James Dwyer.

"I support the expansion of food trucks in the city, but I don't think Board Bill 14 is ready to pass out of committee," said Matt O'Leary, representing the Downtown North STL district.

"There are currently 21 [rules and regulations] pertaining to the food truck vendor program," said Casey Milberg, policy director in the mayor's office, adding that those rules include insurance, health permits and trash plans and would be updated to match any ordinance changes.

Ending note Committee members said they will set follow-up meetings and that the sponsor will work with the chair and affected departments to post revised language for public review before the next hearing.