Food-truck owners urge Elgin council for parking variance near Crystal and Highland

During public comment, Marie Bersamina, owner of Gotta Kill Zone, and Jennifer Cook, owner of Cook’s Ice Cream and Sprinkles and Dot Mobile Catering, asked the council for relief from a city ordinance that bars commercial vehicles from certain city lots. Bersamina said she parked her truck in a city lot on Crystal and Highland near her apartment for years but is now being ticketed because her vehicle is classified as commercial. “I’m asking the council for a variance or a special permit regarding the commercial vehicle parking lot ordinance for this specific lot,” Bersamina said, explaining she lives about five minutes from her commissary kitchen and has no other viable on‑site parking.

Jennifer Cook said she shares a commissary with Bersamina and urged the council to consider multi‑use arrangements, seasonal permits or monetizing underused city lots to accommodate seasonal vendors. “If we want Elgin to be a place where small businesses and food trucks can thrive, then we need to ensure the infrastructure and ordinances don’t unintentionally force us out,” Cook said.

Both speakers offered to work with the city manager and code‑compliance staff to find pragmatic solutions and provided contact information. City staff acknowledged receipt of their concerns and said the city manager or code compliance department would follow up. No formal council action on the ordinance was taken at the meeting.