Food trucks owners ask for changes to city ordinance and operating laws

Food trucks remains a popular growing business in Maury County, but it’s also a company struggling to pass laws that its owners consider “business-friendly”.

The city first unveiled its current Food Truck Ordinance in 2017, which Columbia City Council passed in June 2018 after months of back-and-forth between the board and the planning committee.

However, some food truck owners are now requesting changes such as: B. easing the licensing restrictions and allowing greater operational flexibility.

Abe Everett, owner and founder of Abes BBQ Smokehouse, was a leader in Colombia’s local food truck scene and advocated updating the current regulations.

For the past three years, Everett has come up with a proposal to update the city bylaws. He says “should have been there in the beginning”.

He also believes that the city should seek more input from food truck owners before drafting a new regulation.

“I just want good laws in place,” Everett said. “The government is supposed to be for and by the people, and the process we were exposed to was definitely not that. The people who are primarily affected, myself and other food truckers, were never asked by the planning committee, when they submitted their initial plans. “

He says the current law did more harm than good, calling it an unfair approach to doing business by food truck companies in the city’s central business district (CBD), which includes downtown and the surrounding areas.

Hindrance to small business growth

It involves regulations like the size requirements for food truck vehicles, the number of permits a food truck owner must obtain to operate, and serving restrictions that prohibit a truck from serving food similar to those in nearby ones Restaurants to serve. For example, if a taco truck were parked near a taco bell or a Mexican restaurant, it would be considered a violation, Everett explained.

“Small businesses are obviously trying to grow and develop in our community, and it’s good for us to have good laws,” he said. “My goal is to make this the simplest and simplest laws you can look at.”

His suggestion highlights include:

• Food trucks must be checked annually by the health department and the fire fighter and must meet all permissible regulations.
• Food trucks are allowed to drive on all industrial, commercial or commercial / residential properties that they own, lease, rent or for which they have an operating license.
• Food trucks must be operated with a valid business license. In order for food trucks to be allowed to drive on public property, they must apply for a city permit for one calendar year from the time of application and work as street vendors or on other urban land (e.g. parks), as long as they comply with the following rules.
• Your serving windows should face away from any street or driveway they may occupy.
• The device is removed from the site every day.
• The device will not block traffic unless it is operated with prior city-approved road closures and / or mass capture permits.

Another problem is that under current law, any food truck currently operating in the city is technically in violation of these regulations. Everett says he intends no harm to Columbia business owners who allow food trucks on their property, but points out that the breach would affect things like insurance claims in the event of fire or food truck failure or damage. while operating on a business property.

“It’s not fair for us as a company because Heaven forbids it if something happens. Will an insurance company cover that?” Said Everett.

There’s also the stigma that food trucks negatively impact nearby brick and mortar stores, which, according to Everett, couldn’t be further from the truth. According to him, food trucks have contributed to an increase in customers in nearby businesses in the past.

“There are a huge number of advantages restaurants have over a food truck, namely the ability to sell alcoholic beverages, beer, and wine. We can’t because we’re mobile,” said Everett.

“The other reality is that you can’t tell people where they’re going to eat. McDonald’s and Burger King are sitting right next to each other, and that’s city after city. They do that because the competition actually helps them, much like we face the argument about how food trucks are harming the restaurant industry, but there isn’t a single study or data available by anyone to support it. “

Food truck owners speak out

Jack Brancewicz, owner of Ooh La La New Orleans, Shaved Ice, and Best of the Big Easy Food Trucks, also pointed out the importance of food trucks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many stationary businesses keeping several local nonprofits alive who sought help.

“Abe is giving back to the community and we have raised money for each of the bricks and mortar that have been so badly injured by the pandemic,” said Brancewicz. “My wife and I, our company, have never turned down a nonprofit who came to us for help. We’ve only been in business for three years, but last year we donated nearly $ 10,000 to local nonprofits donated roughly evenly between Maury Counties and Lewis Counties as our main business is in those two counties. “

At this month’s Columbia City Council study session, Everett presented his proposal to amend the ordinance. He said this is his “last ditch effort” to make the changes he believes will boost the industry.

“When I say I’m trying to solve this problem here, I don’t just mean here in Colombia. I want to make this a solution for the entire state of Tennessee in the next few years,” said Everett.

Brancewicz, like Everett, said at a recent council meeting that he believes the changes could be made but calls for food truck owners to be more involved this time around.

“After Hurricane Katrina, when restaurants were closed, New Orleans went through exactly the same thing,” he said. “How do we provide enough laws for the food trucks that come in and are fair to the restaurants? Abe and I want the laws to be worked out and smoothed out on the margins, and that’s what we’re offering you – for us, part of this Process. “

City to reflect updates to the regulation

Molder said he would “do everything he can” to support local businesses. It’s just a matter of opening the discussion to see what can be done.

“The city council is always keen to explore ways to improve efficiency and this is no exception when it comes to food trucks,” said Molder. “The food truck scene has certainly grown and expanded in recent years, and it was only around three to four years ago that it really made its way into Colombia.”

Molder said he would help the city become “more responsive” to food trucks.

“Now I think it’s even more ingrained so there is an opportunity to see what we can do to be more responsive because I think food trucks are no different from any other small business,” he said. “You’re just a mobile salesman compared to bricks and mortar.”

He also applauded Everett for sticking with it and doing so in the best interests of food trucks locally and across the state.

“Abe led the way in introducing new and modernized guidelines for food trucks, and he’s also doing a few things at the state level trying to get state support and more consistent procedures,” said Molder.

“If Columbia can lead this project, I’ll be for it. I hope the end result will be greater efficiency and more support for the Columbia food truck industry because we want it to continue to thrive.”

Alderman Danny Coleman said he believed there was room to discuss possible changes. Small business support was also the platform he ran on before taking office. This includes creating the best opportunities for food trucks and their stationary colleagues.

“Healthy competition drives growth,” said Coleman. “I think just because you’re a barbecue food truck and you’re parked next to a stationary grill area doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to take them out of business.”

Coleman added that there is currently no plan to pass a new food truck regulation, but it is an issue he is expected to discuss during the council’s upcoming strategic planning session, which begins Tuesday.

“I know I’ll bring it up, and I’m sure a few different members of the council will be interested in learning how we can adopt food trucks and treat them with the same care that we get from any of our small businesses would expect, “said Coleman.