Commissionors ask staff to work with Sunrise Pita on short‑term food truck plan amid plaza renovations

Deputy Mayor Neil Kirch and the Sunrise City Commission discussed a proposal May 13 to allow a temporary food truck to serve Sunrise Pita & Grill customers while the restaurant’s plaza undergoes renovations.

The discussion culminated in a request that restaurant owner Sherry Franco work with city staff to return with a detailed, code‑compliant plan. City Manager Mark Lebowski told the commission the plaza owner, identified in the meeting as Meyer Minion, supports a temporary food truck and that the businesses in the plaza closed May 8 for renovations. Lebowski said, “The renovations have already started. I believe the businesses were closed on May 8,” and that staff’s initial estimate was the work “should be done in around 90 days.”

Why it matters: Commissioners raised public‑health, traffic and equity concerns that would affect whether a long‑term temporary permit is appropriate and how the city would inspect and oversee the operation. Commissioner Joseph Scudo pressed staff on sanitary facilities, inspection cadence, parking supply and whether a special‑event permit was an appropriate vehicle for an arrangement that could last months. Scudo said such approvals risk creating precedents for other tenants, and he repeatedly cautioned that a remodel timeline could extend beyond 90 days.

What was discussed: Staff outlined options for a permitted temporary use, including processing a special‑event permit with conditions. Sherry Franco told the commission the restaurant’s current hours are limited—“We’re currently open only 5 and a half days. So we are open Sunday from 12 to 8. Monday to Thursday from 11 to 8, and Friday from 11 to 3.”—and said Sunrise Pita would rent (not buy) a food truck and would comply with licensing and health requirements.

Commissioners asked whether the plaza owner would make restroom facilities available, how many parking spaces could be allocated and how inspections (fire, health and public‑safety) would be scheduled if a truck remained in one place. Lebowski reported the owner believed about 15 parking spaces could be allocated around a truck but said staff would return with a more detailed plan.

Outcome and next steps: The commission did not take a final vote on a permit. Commissioners generally expressed support for helping the long‑standing business but agreed the applicant must provide a concrete plan and address the commission’s operational and health‑inspection questions. Deputy Mayor Kirch closed the discussion by asking Ms. Franco to coordinate with staff; at the end of the meeting staff asked Franco “to get with Megan Caulfield before she leaves to get contact information.” The item will return to a future meeting for a formal action once staff and the applicant supply the required details.

Context: Commissioners noted the risk that a temporary arrangement could stretch beyond an initial timeline and create requests from other tenants. Several commissioners urged clarity in any approval so it would be narrowly tailored to Sunrise Pita’s circumstances rather than open‑ended.