Red Tape Committee advances St. Louis food-truck code rewrite after amendments, 5-1

A special committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 on Wednesday to advance a committee substitute for Board Bill 152, a comprehensive rewrite of the city's food-truck and mobile vending code that creates defined vending markets, a visible permit decal for each truck and an enforcement process for complaints.

Alderman Aldridge, sponsor of the substitute, told the Special Committee on Red Tape the measure is intended to "cut red tape for food trucks for them to be able to operate," and to clarify where vendors may lawfully set up. The substitute removes many references to vague "vending districts," instead establishing named commercial vending markets in neighborhoods including a Downtown Commercial Vending District, Downtown West, Grand Center and a citywide parks vending market; prior exemptions such as the Wharf District at the Arch and areas around Busch Stadium remain intact.

The committee adopted three amendments before the final vote. Amendment 1, moved by the alderwoman from the 8th Ward, adds a small stretch of Lafayette Avenue in Soulard outside the market footprint so food trucks can legally operate there.…