Food truck ordinance under review in Royal City

Key points: 

1. Royal City City Council reviewing options to revise food truck ordinance. 
2. Public comment will be solicited on final proposal. 
3. Draft proposal tentatively released later this summer 

ROYAL CITY — Royal City residents will get further chances to comment on updates to the city’s ordinances for mobile food vendors, a subject that’s been under extensive discussion by Royal City City Council members. Finance Director Janice Flynn said revisions have become a topic as mobile food vendors have become more popular. 

“Things have changed, like every city is realizing,” Flynn said. “Food trucks are not only out there, they’re wanted by consumers. We have quite a few.” 

It's been the subject of multiple meetings and extended public comment since March. 

“(The council has) been looking at it for quite a while,” Flynn said.  

Council members and city officials are looking at ordinances from other cities as they work on revisions, she said. Council members have held special meetings to discuss revisions; Royal City residents have given their ideas and opinions at council meetings. 

All the discussions have resulted in some possible options, currently under review by the city’s attorney before further review by the council. After that, there will be additional opportunities for public comment, Flynn said. 

Current city ordinances require mobile vendors, including mobile food vendors, to operate from a permanent location intended for commercial use. A business using a motor vehicle is prohibited from operating from a vacant lot or location next to a public path, unless it’s set up next to an established business. 

All mobile vendors are prohibited from operating near an established business unless they’re a tenant of that business and in that building. They're prohibited from using city streets.  

They’re also prohibited from operating within 300 feet of a city park, 400 feet of a public school, or 300 feet of an established business that sells the same or similar products.  

In some cases, that has restricted where food vendors can do business, Flynn said.  

The food vendor rules were not on the agenda of the June 17 council meeting, and Flynn said there’s no timetable for council review of the options. Council members will decide on their preferred options, then ask for additional comments, she said.