SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
If city council wants food vendors to congregate on the 50/50 lot in an effort to revitalize the area, one food truck operator says there has to be a "significant cleanup" first.

Rami Kassem of Javaroma says he can live with the proposed food truck regulations this year but wants the rules changed for 2016. - Karen K. Ho/NNSL photo

That's what Murray Jones of Curbside Treats and Eats said May 11 as council considered new regulations for the mobile businesses.

City councillors Adrian Bell and Dan Wong have been pushing the idea of having food truck vendors set up on the empty city-owned lot. Bell was pitching the the idea of having vendors gather on the lot one evening of the week, potentially Thursdays.

There's interest in the concept among operators, Jones said but there has to be "significant cleanup."

"The people who congregate in the area are "pretty rough to say the least," he said.

He suggested the city would have to physically clean up the lot, and have an increased police and municipal enforcement officer presence.

"There's a bit of apprehension on our part because of it's present state," he said.

Trucks would have to set up in a valid parking space. The restrictions limit the number of trucks on 50 Avenue to one per block, including both sides of the street.

Despite three presenters saying they had issues with the regulations, the bylaw passed second reading with only Coun. Niels Konge opposed.

Javaroma owner disappointed

"For us, it's not good for our business," said Rami Kassem of Javaroma, telling councillors the proliferation of food trucks is discouraging investment in permanent food establishments downtown.

The trucks could cost Javaroma around $20,000 per year in business, he said.

While he was not happy with the proposed regulations, he said he could live with them for the first year while better rules are worked out for 2016.

Kassem revealed during the meeting that Javaroma will be opening another location at the city airport and hopes to eventually open other franchise locations.

"We want to be everywhere in the North," Kassem said.

Two vendors who attended the meeting were disappointed by the regulation drafting process.

Jones said he left a consultation meeting with city staff feeling good about the regulations that would allow two vendors per block.

However, when the proposal came forward to committee, he was surprised it had been revised to one per block.

Jennifer Vornbrock, who operates the Fresh Squeeze food truck, said she also felt like things had changed without consultation.

"I don't know how we arrived at the one vendor per block," Vornbrock said. "I certainly was left out of that."

Nalini Naidoo, the city's director of communications and economic development, said e-mails were sent out and apologized if it wasn't received.

"We had to reach a compromise where not everyone was going to be happy," she said about the changes following the consultation meetings.

Vornbrock expressed concern with being pushed away from Franklin Avenue toward somewhere like the park beside city hall. She believes that would cripple her business.

"I do want to have fair access to the downtown core and that's what I'm asking for today," Vornbrock said.

About 20 seconds into a statement by Coun. Phil Moon Son on the regulations he made a comment that turned heads.

"I'm going to be involved in a restaurant operation in the future but I don't think that's influencing my decision today," Moon Son said before being interrupted by the mayor.

"You may want to get an opinion from the city's lawyer before ... voting on it," Heyck said. Moon Son initially tried to downplay the potential conflict of interest. The mayor urged him to leave council chambers for the rest of the debate and vote on the motion which Moon Son did.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.