Resident asks council to revisit ice-cream/food-truck ban; council expresses interest in special-event permits

During public comment, resident Amanda Hancock of Terry Cove asked the council to review the city's ordinance that she was told bans ice cream trucks from operating in Orange Beach. Hancock said she had called city staff and been told roving vendors were not allowed and that she wanted to explore allowing vendors for private events such as birthday parties or pool gatherings under a special-event permit.

Hancock: “I am requesting that the city council, review the ordinance for ice cream trucks.” Councilmembers responded that a special-event permit approach could allow vendors to come to a specified private location without allowing roving operations. One councilor said, “I would think because this is what we probably always let happen anyway,” and another said a minimal fee and a permitting process could address concerns about multiple permitted vendors and public-safety issues.

Council directed staff to research options and consider whether a minimal special-event permit or a narrow exemption for non-roving vendor visits would be appropriate. Staff said prior research had been requested and that the matter would be reported back to the council.