Council weighs new food-truck rules; staff proposes pilot, parking limits and Street Food Finder registration

City staff proposed Ordinance 29-26 to create a standalone food-truck chapter that establishes where and how mobile vendors may operate in Dublin and to run a pilot program in 12 designated locations.

“Kendall Blake said the chapter is intended to create regulations that are clear, enforceable, and responsive to operational needs of the community,” staff said during the May 26 meeting. Staff noted Riverside Crossing Park is not recommended as a food-truck location because of topography, infrastructure constraints and emergency-response circulation concerns; instead staff narrowed allowable on-street parking to the northern portion of Riverside Drive. Blake told council staff planned an educational website explaining licensing, designated locations, reservation and prohibited dates and recommended adoption at second reading on June 8.

Blake and outside counsel advised council to pilot the program, using Street Food Finder as the city’s registration platform. Staff said Street Food Finder would cost the city nothing and can limit bookings (for example, to prevent a single truck from reserving the same spot every day). Anthony Severn (outside counsel) and staff confirmed the platform can be configured for rolling scheduling and frequency limits. Council members asked about measurable pilot metrics; staff said Street Food Finder offers operator surveys and voluntary earnings reporting that could inform evaluation, and that staff will collect community feedback through the proposed website.

Council did not take a final vote; a second reading and public hearing is scheduled for June 8.