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Pella council reviews food truck policy and OKs temporary outdoor dining lease for Liberty Street Kitchen
Summary
Council supported moving forward on policy changes to allow food trucks at city facilities during events and approved a lease for Liberty Street Kitchen to use 1,179 sq ft of Molengracht Plaza for outdoor dining from April 1 to Oct. 31, 2026 at $589.50 for the season.
City staff told the Pella City Council on March 3 that staffing concession stands at events has become more difficult and that several food truck operators have expressed interest in vending at city-owned facilities during events.
City Administrator Mike Nardini said staff would allow user groups to operate their own concession stands for fundraising while permitting food trucks to supplement those operations but structured so they do not conflict with user-group concessions. Staff also said it would explore charging food truck operators a percentage of sales rather than a flat fee. Council expressed support for proceeding to formally consider the ordinance or policy changes required to allow food trucks at specified city facilities.
Separately, Council approved Resolution No. 7013 authorizing a lease with Liberty Street Kitchen to rent 1,179 square feet of Molengracht Plaza for outdoor dining from April 1 through Oct. 31, 2026 at $0.50 per square foot (total $589.50). The lease limits hours of operation to 6 a.m.–midnight, permits quiet music that does not disturb adjoining public space, allows the city to use the space for special events, and retains the previously approved layout with patio dining and patio lounge areas that together seat roughly 32–34 people.
Next steps: staff will prepare ordinance language or administrative procedures to implement food truck operations on city property and will execute the Liberty Street Kitchen lease for the 2026 season.
