The new food truck ordinance is insanely stupid!

http://www.wlky.com/news/29543516/detail.html

Coverage of the issue is already on the 6:00 news.

After some research, it appears that the "new" ordinance is the same as the old ordinance, with a few restrictions removed/loosened. The fight to improve our regulations to allow food trucks to operate needs to continue (they are certainly unnecessarily complex), but to present the ordinance as new is disingenuous, in my opinion.

If this is a slight improvement over the old regulations, keep fighting to make the laws more favorable for business (as mentioned previously, research how things are done in other cities where food trucks are part of the culture).

I read someplace that Portland, OR (a/k/a Mecca for food trucks and carts) uses a "POD" concept for mobile food devices, Anyone know anything about this POD concept and whether it would work here?

I propose we start an underground circuit for food truck enthusiasts... or, if you will, a "Food Club." The trucks appear at random places throughout the city, we advertise it underground like a flash mob, show up and get our eat on, then they trucks pull away before anybody is the wiser. Everyone knows that half the fun is breaking the law, and the other half of the fun is delicious truck food.

And if that doesn't work, I propose an eat in. Pull the trucks up to where those Occupy Louisville cats are hanging out, park in the... park, and start slinging vegetarian bahn mi and grilled cheese and Cuban sandwiches until we get our way! Rather than uselessly protesting Wall Street, maybe we can use their powers for good and get legitimate change to the food truck game.

I propose we start an underground circuit for food truck enthusiasts... or, if you will, a "Food Club." The trucks appear at random places throughout the city, we advertise it underground like a flash mob, show up and get our eat on, then they trucks pull away before anybody is the wiser. Everyone knows that half the fun is breaking the law, and the other half of the fun is delicious truck food.

And if that doesn't work, I propose an eat in. Pull the trucks up to where those Occupy Louisville cats are hanging out, park in the... park, and start slinging vegetarian bahn mi and grilled cheese and Cuban sandwiches until we get our way! Rather than uselessly protesting Wall Street, maybe we can use their powers for good and get legitimate change to the food truck game.

I'm trying to recognize a little tongue in cheek with this post but I'm not feeling it. Deliberately violating the ordinance (aka breaking the law)...and then rubbing their face in it...with the expectation of positive results. What a positively genius way to win friends (or political ally's) and influence people.

[Robin Garr]

I'm trying to recognize a little tongue in cheek with this post but I'm not feeling it. Deliberately violating the ordinance (aka breaking the law)...and then rubbing their face in it...with the expectation of positive results. What a positively genius way to win friends (or political ally's) and influence people.

I'll bet you had short hair during the '60s, too.

Actually, it looks like the old regs that were only for ice cream trucks have now merged into the food truck regs. While those regs are certainly not new, they never were written for food trucks and don't really fit the food truck biz model.

With the 25' required distance between trucks the Pod concept (Portland) probably won't happen in Louisville. And to think, last month someone from the city was trying to get "Food Truck Friday" as a regular feature on the Belvedere.

These merged regs are truly a setback, and contain several provisions that are pretty much impossible to comply with.

I'm trying to recognize a little tongue in cheek with this post but I'm not feeling it. Deliberately violating the ordinance (aka breaking the law)...and then rubbing their face in it...with the expectation of positive results. What a positively genius way to win friends (or political ally's) and influence people.

I'll bet you had short hair during the '60s, too.

...You know better than that, you've seen my profile picture on Facebook. Still, I hope you understand my point. This is such a comparatively small issue in the big scheme of things...Really, it is, no lie..that IMHO one would be much better off working for incremental change within the system than to just arbitrarily start agitating the HMFWBIC, What the hell though...None of my business.

As far as the criminal background check, is somebody really going to complain about that? I don't want John Wayne Gacy to be serving me food either .

Tim,

I find that statement very offensive and the comparison extremely rude to the Food Truck owners that post on this site. People have criminal records for reasons that have nothing to do with other people's safety. And whatever happened to serving your time and paying your debt to society? A criminal record is irrelevant to food service, and it's patentedly unfair to enforce this on Food Trucks if there is no such rule for brick & mortar or other food businesses.

Deb

If somebody has trouble following rules, I think think it is very relevant to food service. I've eaten from plenty of roach coaches, but I still feel that it is in the owners best interest to follow the regulations.

If somebody has trouble following rules, I think think it is very relevant to food service. I've eaten from plenty of roach coaches, but I still feel that it is in the owners best interest to follow the regulations.

I agree as long as there is a basis for the rules and they're reasonable. In this case it seems like many parts of the regulations are only there to discourage food trucks from operating in Louisville. For instance what basis is there for them not being any closer than 25 feet from each other? Getting together in groups Is something that is done by food trucks all over the nation!

I'm trying to recognize a little tongue in cheek with this post but I'm not feeling it.

Well, I did talk about "Food Club," which is breaking the first two rules of "Food Club." Also, I stole the underground food truck idea from an episode of King of the Hill where Arlen banned trans-fats and so Buck Strickland started an illegal food truck that sold all the delicious, trans-fatty foods that were made illegal.

So yes, it was tongue in cheek, except for the part about driving down to Occupy Louisville. I'd imagine they're pretty sick of canned food and would love some Morel's.

What does HMFWBIC stand for>

I'm trying to recognize a little tongue in cheek with this post but I'm not feeling it. Deliberately violating the ordinance (aka breaking the law)...and then rubbing their face in it...with the expectation of positive results. What a positively genius way to win friends (or political ally's) and influence people.

I'll bet you had short hair during the '60s, too.

...You know better than that, you've seen my profile picture on Facebook. Still, I hope you understand my point. This is such a comparatively small issue in the big scheme of things...Really, it is, no lie..that IMHO one would be much better off working for incremental change within the system than to just arbitrarily start agitating the HMFWBIC, What the hell though...None of my business.

What does HMFWBIC stand for>

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=HMFWBIC

Thank you

What does HMFWBIC stand for>

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=HMFWBIC

Other than being a fan of Mayor Fischer, a fan of good food trucks in Louisville and a supporter of local businesses, I realy don't have a "dog in this fight." I did send an email to Mayor Fischer's office via the LMG web page. I rec'd a prompt response that seems to clarify the "new" food truck ordinance somewhat. Based on what I am hearing, and if gov't follows through, many of the "gripes" from some food truck owners are not necessarily warranted and LMG appears to be flexible.

Food truck owners...give them a try and let us know how things work out.

I rec'd this response from S Brandon Coan, Policy Analyst – Office of the Mayor, (502) 574-2029,
Brandon.Coan@louisvilleky.gov who welcomed me to share with the board...

Thanks for writing. Here are the facts:

1) There are no new operating requirements for mobile food unit (“food truck”) vendors as a result of the passage of Ordinance 210 (attached). The ordinance does two things, and two things only: a) it allows mobile food unit vendors to pay for a single license that permits them to operate at any allowable location instead of having to pay for a separate license for each location; and b) it reduces by half the buffers required for them to operate near a residence or competing (i.e. selling similar products) bricks and mortar business.

2) All other rules and regulations applicable to mobile food unit vendors are preexisting and predate this Administration and Ordinance 210.

3) Inspections, Permits and Licenses (“IPL”) staff is willing, able, and happy to help mobile food unit vendors come into compliance with operating requirements. No business owner operating in good faith faces any imminent threat of being shut down or otherwise disrupted.

4) To the extent that any operating requirement proves to be overly costly or burdensome, Louisville Metro Government (“LMG”) (both executive and legislative branches) will work with business owners to come up with new solutions. In fact, we are already studying next steps to continue to improve the business environment for food service (street) vendors.

5) LMG has been working together with mobile food unit vendors for the past several months. We want their businesses to succeed and we are trying to help them. The passage of Ordinance 210 was a significant first step towards creating a sustainable Louisville street food scene. With continued effort and cooperation, all involved can make this work a lasting contribution to the local economy and culture.

Without elaborating further here, I can assure you that special events like Food Truckus Ruckus are not in jeopardy and we support the creation of Portland, OR-style pods. As I mentioned, the 25-ft. rule is a preexisting regulation; we're taking a look at it going forward.

DD