OFFICE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL
117 WEST DUVAL STREET,
SUITE 425
4TH FLOOR,
CITY HALL
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
32202
904-630-1377
Neighborhoods, Community
Investments and Services Committee
Food Truck Workshop
Minutes
June 8, 2017
Topic: Food truck policies
Location: Lynwood Roberts Room, 1st floor,
City Hall – St. James Building, 117 West Duval Street
In
attendance: Council
Members Scott Wilson (Chair), Reggie Brown, Reggie Gaffney, and Bill
Gulliford
Also:
Kim Taylor – Council Auditor’s Office; Jason Teal – Office of General Counsel; Colleen
Hampsey – Council Research Division; Juliette Williams – Legislative
Services Division
Panel:
Aundra Wallace – Downtown Investment Authority; Jake Gordon – Downtown
Vision Inc.; Representatives of the Downtown Restaurant Association,
Representatives of the Jax Truckies Food Truck Association
See
attached sign-in sheet for additional attendees.
Meeting
Convened: 3:04
pm
Council Member
Scott Wilson began the meeting with introductions and then explained the
agenda. Jason Teal, Office of General Counsel, discussed the portions of Chapter
250 (Miscellaneous Business Regulations), Ordinance
Code which pertain to mobile food vending (food trucks). This ordinance was amended in 2014
after several noticed meetings with the public, mobile food vendors, restaurant
owners and City Staff. The intent of the food truck legislation was to allow
both the food truck owners and the established restaurant industry to co-exist
without negative financial impact to the other. Some of the current Downtown
food truck regulations include: location no closer than 50 feet from a
permanent establishment selling food, hours of operation in the Downtown area are
unlimited but parking on any City Right‐of‐Way or metered parking space is prohibited.
Colleen
Hampsey, Council Research Division, presented some background research about
municipal food truck policy differences. When looking at other cities, the main
policy differences for food truck regulations across localities are: the
distances the trucks may operate from brick and mortar restaurants (most are
50-200 feet), specific zoning ordinances for locations, hours of operation, and
whether the food trucks may use the same location each day. Some cities cap the
amount of food truck licenses and have a lottery process to apply for new ones.
While food trucks may create less direct revenue to cities, advocates argue
that the presence of mobile food vendors, especially downtown, energizes the
food scene as a whole through innovation. Additionally, there is often industry
crossover, wherein restaurants owners will sometimes expand into food trucks
and food truck owners build enough capital to open brick and mortar
establishments.
Valerie
Williams, Consumer Affairs Manager, spoke briefly about City of Jacksonville Office
of Consumer Affairs which handles permits, licenses and business tax receipts
for the mobile food vendors. Councilman Reggie Brown asked about the
differences between food truck regulations in parks, in contrast to downtown,
and about the rules regarding the use of parking meters. Jason Teal explained
that according to the current ordinance, food trucks may not use metered
parking, although after 6:00 pm meters are not enforced. Councilman Gulliford
asked about the somewhat daunting permitting process for using public parks and
suggested that it might be simplified or streamlined. When asked about the
onerous process restaurants owners face when applying to have outdoor
seating/sidewalk cafes, Mr. Wallace, Downtown Investment Authority, indicated
that the policy needs to be reviewed.
Members
of the panel then discussed their differing perspectives on the strengths and
weaknesses of the current food truck ordinance. Some of the restaurant
association representatives contend that the 50 foot distance requirement is
too close and proposed extending it (possibly to 300 feet). Jake Gordon,
Downtown Vision Inc., offered to create a downtown map that shows all of the
brick and mortar restaurants. Members of the panel who collaborated on the 2014
food truck ordinance reminded the group that during that process, varying
distances had been measured and it was determined that 300 feet would so
severely limit where food trucks could locate that it was rejected for being
unfeasible. One of the restaurant association members spoke in opposition to
the urban food court on Hogan Street, where 3-4 trucks operate during lunch
downtown.
With a
small downtown residential population (~4000), competition for employee based
lunchtime consumers (48,000 working in the North and South banks) is high. It
was also suggested that the number of food trucks operating in the downtown
area could be limited, in the interest of fairness to the approximately 80
downtown restaurants. An estimated ten food trucks are working in the downtown
area, on average. The food truck association representatives do not see a need
for changes in the ordinance, and argued that limiting the amount of food
trucks would be perceived as protectionism in favor of one industry over
another. All parties affirmed their
commitment to the city, particularly to the revitalization of downtown.
Councilmen
Wilson, Gaffney and Brown said that the food truck ordinance should be examined
by smaller groups, possibly two (downtown policies and parks/citywide policies)
or three groups (downtown, parks and citywide). A possible meeting date of June
22nd, was proposed for the next workshop to be either in groups or as a whole.
Councilman Wilson thanked everyone for coming and making an effort to work
together despite differing viewpoints.
Meeting Adjourned: 4:54 pm
Minutes:
Colleen Hampsey, Council Research (904) 630-1498
6.9.17 Posted 12:00 p.m.