Commissioners recommend allowing food trucks in public parks under new permit rules

Pleasant Grove Planning Commission on Aug. 14 voted to forward a recommendation to city council to amend city code section 10‑15‑48 to permit mobile food businesses to operate in public parks under specified conditions, including a one‑day permit, designated parking stalls, trash removal responsibilities and restrictions on signage and parking.

Planner Jacob Hawkins said the amendment formalizes requirements Parks and Recreation already enforces and would streamline approval by removing the requirement for each vendor to obtain permission from the parks director. Proposed conditions include: a one‑day permit valid only on the date issued; permits limited to specific parks, parking stalls and days as determined by the city administrator or designee; prohibition on parking on grass or blocking traffic; vendor responsibility for trash removal and assessment for damages or extra cleanup; and signage limited to the vehicle itself.

Commissioners discussed operational details such as whether permits would be first‑come, first‑served for recurring events and how to manage popular locations like Cook Park or Harvey Park. Hawkins said staff and the city administrator or designee could designate permitted spaces and that engineering or park staff would evaluate traffic flow and safety. Commissioner questions focused on whether the city should cap the number of trucks at a park and how advance booking would be handled; commissioners noted the rules could be amended later if experience showed a problem.

Hawkins said the amendment would make permitting consistent and allow staff to track how often vendors operate in parks and which stalls are used. The commission voted to forward the amendment and staff exhibits to city council. Commissioner Patton moved to forward a recommendation of approval and Commissioner Shirley seconded; commissioners voted in favor and the motion carried. If adopted, the city's business‑license and park permitting processes would apply to operations; Parks and Recreation staff would coordinate designated stalls and days of operation.