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Shelton vendors and residents urge council to clarify food-truck rules and keep Mason Food Court open
Summary
Food-truck owners and small-business operators told the Shelton City Council on July 7 that health- and zoning-related rules are written for brick-and-mortar operators and impose costly burdens on mobile vendors; the council said it will examine the issue in a study session next week.
Dozens of residents and mobile-food business owners urged the Shelton City Council to clarify local rules for food trailers, pop-ups and the Mason Food Court, saying current enforcement and permit requirements threaten small vendors.
"I had to spend $3,000 to have a grease trap put in my truck for no reason," said Jeremy Cummings, a county resident and food-truck owner, who told the council that many rules seem designed for brick-and-mortar restaurants and impose disproportionate costs on mobile operators.
Marianne, owner of Filipino Food Catered by Marianne, told the council she supported fellow food-truck operators and asked the city to keep the Mason Food Court open, arguing that downtown vitality depends on small vendors. "We bring customers from out of town. If we're pushed out of here, there's nothing going between here and Belfair," she said.
Jeff Lork, a barbecue vendor who uses a trailer rather than a fully built truck, described safety steps he takes and asked the council to consider allowing trailers and pop-ups: "I have all the appropriate fire extinguishers... I have my pop-ups fire resistant." He said regulatory uncertainty makes it hard to operate.
Council members acknowledged the concerns and said staff would examine whether requirements stem from city, county or health-department rules. One council member said a study session is scheduled for next week to pursue a resolution and gather more information.
The council approved the consent agenda and then invited public comment; no formal regulatory changes were adopted at the meeting. City staff and councilmembers said they would gather the relevant code and health guidance and return with options for the council to consider at the study session.
