Council holds first reading on food-truck ordinance as vendors push for flexibility

The National Town Council on May 26 held a first reading of ordinance 20-26-07, proposed to regulate mobile food vendors within town limits. Councilors and public commenters spent more than an hour debating where food trucks should be allowed, how enforcement would work and whether fees should be specified in the ordinance or moved into a separate fee schedule.

The proposed draft would limit food trucks inside the village/historic district to special permits, a point that drew pushback from vendors and some council members. "I was thinking about moving to Tennessee, and I bought Reynolds Leather, and I'm stuck here for a while… I would like to move my popcorn trailer behind Reynolds Leather, and I would like to not be kicked out of town," said the food-truck operator (public commenter), urging the council for a pathway to operate on private property. Organizers of town markets said events drove business and supported managed operations.

Council discussion focused on two edits staff recommended: clarifying which office enforces violations and moving fee amounts out of the ordinance into a separate annually adjustable schedule. One council member noted that many ordinances leave enforcement language broad to preserve flexibility; others pressed for clearer procedural language so residents and staff know who handles warnings, suspensions or permit revocations.

The council voted to schedule a dedicated work session to continue revisions; staff suggested moving fees to a separate resolution so the council may update them annually. The workshop was set for June 11 at 5 p.m. to allow a narrower, technical review of enforcement language, fee schedules and possible village-district exceptions.

What happens next: Councilors said the June work session will be used to reconcile enforcement language, finalize fee amounts (if needed) and consider options for private-property operations versus special-event-only allowances.