INUVIK
It appears the fastest way to motivate Inuvik residents to attend a council meeting is through their stomachs.

Josh Tyler of Ready Red's food truck is trying to show that you can fight town hall after Inuvik council took the first steps to amend the Highway Traffic Bylaw to prohibit street vending, which would force him to find a private location for his popular outlet. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

It was standing room only May 14 when town council debated amending the Highway Traffic Bylaw to prohibit street vending.

The only food truck currently operating in Inuvik is Ready Red's, which operates on Mackenzie Road in front of the Mad Trapper bar. Owned and operated by Josh Tyler since the summer of 2013, Tyler has been caught in the crosshairs of the council following some complaints after two weeks of operation this year.

Tyler asked to speak to council about the bylaw, which would ban trucks like his trailer from setting up shop on public parking spots along the town's road system in favour of them moving off the road to private spots or perhaps public land with permission.

As it currently stands, Tyler's operation is not a true mobile service. He parks the trailer in two public parking spots and taps into the Mad Trapper's electricity and other services to power the unit.

He said he's spent upwards of $3,000 putting in the necessary equipment to make that practical. Without hooking into those services, Tyler said, he would have to buy a generator and hire someone to look after his water needs, which would increase his costs substantially.

He said he began to feel pressure from the town even before he opened when a bylaw officer came by to tell him "the town doesn't want you on the street this year," Tyler told council.

That pressure came after he purchased his business license, as he had done every year since 2010, when he began selling from a hog dog cart at the same location.

Tyler said on May 11, the day before council was scheduled to vote on first and second reading of the bylaw amendment, he is furious about the decision.

He stopped nearly every passerby and customer to tell them about the situation while doing an interview. None of the people stopped during that time supported the town's decision.

Tyler said he was hoping to gather as many supporters as he could to attend the meeting.

Tyler had also started an online petition arguing against the bylaw, which more than 200 people have signed.

Perhaps 50 people crowded into the council chamber to hear Tyler give an impassioned plea against the bylaw amendment.

"I'm trying to bring tourists to the heart of the town," he said. "I'm here tonight looking to see if we can work together instead of putting a prohibition on street vending."

"This isn't about you," Mayor Floyd Roland said. "It's a traffic issue, it's a public safety issue."

Roland said he received an unspecified number of complaints, including from taxi drivers, about the trailer being a hindrance.

He stressed the bylaw wasn't intending to shut down Tyler's operation, merely to move it to a safer, more suitable spot that wouldn't disrupt downtown parking.

He and other town councillors made it clear they would prefer if Tyler would set up his operation on private land somewhere, similar to what Bill Rutherford does with his Fruitman operation down Mackenzie Road. Rutherford operates from a vacant, privately-owned lot across from the Cafe on Mackenzie.

Councillor Clarence Wood suggested Tyler should inquire about a vacant lot between the Mad Trapper and the Mid-Town Market as an option that would keep him close to his current spot.

Tyler agreed that was a possibility he would explore.

Councillor Melinda Gillis said she found Ready Red's operation and location is not aesthetically pleasing. She objected to the large power cord Tyler runs from the trailer to the Mad Trapper as unsightly and also said she finds the surrounding area "dirty" and is attracting too many street people.

"It's becoming a real hangout," she said.

Councillor Terry Halifax was the only dissenting member at the table.

"This is too restrictive, and it's the wrong instrument," he said. "We should use the business licence to establish conditions, not the bylaw. I think it's a step backwards."

Halifax and Roland had angry exchanges at the May 12 and the May 14 meetings dealing with the issue.

At the May 12 meeting, Halifax talked over Roland, and told him he "didn't have a vote on the issue" and he should let the councillors talk.

Roland fired back saying "I won't be voting on this."

Halifax was the only councillor who opposed the bylaw amendment, which passed first and second reading on May 14.

The bylaw amendment is expected to be given third and final reading later this month.

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