Council weighs allowing permitted food trucks on private lots; staff recommends pilot or administrative permitting

Justin Gardner, the city’s code compliance manager, presented a study-session discussion of potential changes to Chapter 5.82 governing food trucks. “This ordinance came before council back in 2014,” Gardner said, and he described the city’s current stance that mobile food facilities may operate in the public right of way but are not authorized to operate on private property unless the city explicitly permits it.

Gardner summarized options for council consideration: maintain the status quo, amend the ordinance to allow permitted mobile food facilities on private improved lots with written property-owner consent and an administrative review, or run a time-limited pilot program to evaluate outcomes. “Code staff was recommending either options 2 or 3 to be considered,” he said.

Why this matters: Council members described competing concerns — economic opportunities for restaurants…