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Council hears 'Picnic at the Plaza' food-truck policy pitch that would charge 15% of sales as launch fee
Summary
Visit Graham staff presented a draft 'Picnic at the Plaza' food-truck policy proposing a $25 annual application fee, an initial 15% of sales fee (with first visit free), operating hours of 8 a.m.–8 p.m., and city-provided utilities; item was discussion-only and will return for final consideration.
City staff presented a draft pilot food-truck policy for the downtown plaza, branded 'Picnic at the Plaza,' proposing a modest application fee and a vendor revenue-share approach for an initial launch period.
Kathy, representing Visit Graham/Chamber, said staff reviewed policies from peer cities and combined best practices into the draft. The proposal would require mobile food trucks to be self-contained, provide evidence of insurance and food-handler permits, and remit either a flat fee or a percentage of sales; staff recommended a 15 percent share of reported receipts as the preferred start-up approach, arguing it lowers upfront risk for vendors. Kathy said the initial application fee would be $25 and the first visit could be waived to encourage participation.
Operating hours in the draft are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a minimum four-hour presence per truck; trucks would not be permitted to play music during live entertainment events and would require city manager approval to sell or allow alcohol. Staff also proposed city-provided electricity and water hookups in the plaza area when available. Visit Graham would administer outreach and marketing, with Brooks handling applications and code enforcement completing approvals before trucks are scheduled.
Council discussed enforcement, vendor reporting and collection, and the pros and cons of percentage-based fees versus flat fees. No formal action was taken; staff will refine the draft policy and return it to council for formal adoption and to set final fee structure and enforcement mechanisms.
