Food truck locations guided by city map
Councillors suggest urging vendors to set up on 50/50 lot
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Saturday, May 2, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Revamped regulations for food trucks could be in place for the summer in an effort to satisfy concerns from food establishments and the mobile operators.
Murray Jones, the owner and operator of Curbside Treats n' Eats, was the only vendor who was in council chambers as councillors discussed revisions to the city's food truck regulations late last month. - Karen K. Ho/NNSL photo
|
After consulting both groups, city administration brought forward a proposal for new regulations last month for the growing food truck sector.
If approved by council, the senior administrative officer would issue a new map each year showing where food trucks can and can't set up.
"The solution you see before you might not make everyone 100 per cent happy, but it's more of a consensus solution and everyone should be content," said Dennis Kefalas, the city's senior administrative officer during an April 27 municipal services committee meeting.
The map sets an area roughly a rectangle bordered by 49 Avenue, 44 Street, 52 Avenue and 54 Street where food trucks will be the only mobile vendors allowed to set up on the street. They must be at a metered parking space.
It notes that food vendors wishing to set up on city-owned 50/50 lot or vacant lots along 50 Street can seek permission to do so.
Only one truck will be allowed per city block on Franklin Avenue. As well, only one would be allowed on the blocks of 53 Street and 52 Street between Franklin and 51 Avenue.
Alleys and locations in front of food or beverage establishments are also off limits.
The map can be changed each year by the senior administrative officer to reflect where new dining establishments have opened or to address concerns that have arisen.
Various food and drink establishments have expressed concerns about the number of food trucks setting up nearby and reducing their business.
According to the city report summarizing comments from the meetings with vendors, Javaroma did not have a problem with one or two trucks, but the number has grown to three to five nearby which has an impact of $300 to $1,000 per day.
But what's proposed wasn't to the satisfaction of all councillors.
"I couldn't help but think there's a missed opportunity to concentrate on that 50/50 lot," Coun. Dan Wong said.
Coun. Adrian Bell expressed a similar thought, saying a specific night should be picked where the city seeks to keep vendors on the lot into the evening to draw people downtown.
"Yeah, I think we'd be interested in that," said Murray Jones of Curbside Treats 'n Eats, the only vendor in council chambers during the committee discussion.
