Local vendor tells council food truck license on riverfront cut his weekend sales to $9

During the citizens’ comment period, business owner Tony Cavan addressed the council about a recent vendor license issued for a food truck on the riverfront. Cavan said his business, WashMo on the Go at 1 Albert Drive, depends primarily on receipts from drinks, snacks and ice cream; he said those items make up roughly 25% of the vendor’s intended revenue and had previously covered operating costs only marginally.

Cavan told the council his average Sunday sales from March through the previous Sunday were about $168, but that on the Sunday before the meeting his sales in those three categories totaled $9 after a competing food truck sold similar items at the riverfront. He said the new vendor license has “essentially cut my throat for income to pay my rent.”

Why it matters: the comment raises a local economic concern about licensing decisions that may create direct competition for small downtown vendors who rely on a narrow set of sales to cover rent and operating costs.

Council response and next steps

Council listened to the comment but did not announce a formal action during the meeting. No city staff presentation or staff recommendation on the riverfront vendor license appeared in the meeting minutes; the comment was entered into the public record for future consideration.

Ending

Cavan said he would provide further information to the city; council members acknowledged his remarks. The issue may be raised again in staff reports or at a future meeting if the council or staff elect to review vendor licensing practices on the riverfront.