Food truck debate persists
Javaroma co-owner calls on city
to revise rules for upcoming season
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, April 4, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Food truck regulations are back on the menu at city hall.
The debate came back Tuesday evening during a council meeting when Javaroma co-owner Rami Kassem made a presentation asking why city administration loosened the rules established last year that limited vendors to one per city block on Franklin Avenue.
He said the food trucks create an unfair level of competition as they require fewer permits, benefit from lower start-up costs and don't have to pay rent or property taxes.
"We are asking the city not to ban the food trucks from the downtown, we are asking the city to regulate where they park," Kassem said.
Last year, the city passed a bylaw ushering in rules for mobile food vendors and set out that administration could amend the rules on a yearly basis based on any issues from previous years.
The changes from last year to this year include lifting a ban around the Northwest tower, where Javaroma is located, and removing the one-per-block limit. The vendors still must be at metered parking spaces if on the street.
Coun. Niels Konge pointed out that could mean several food trucks lined up bumper-to-bumper on the block of Franklin between 50 Street and 51 Street.
"That's not just a food truck issue or a restaurant issue now," Konge said, saying that now makes it an issue of blocking parking spaces for people attending downtown businesses.
The councillor was one of several who appeared concerned with the changes.
"We have an issue - it seems like that Greenstone Building is the real hotspot," said Coun. Steve Payne.
Konge asked for the issue to be referred back to a city municipal services committee meeting for more discussion.
Yellowknifer reported in October that several food truck vendors found the rules were an inconvenience.
Murray Jones, operator of Murray's Curbside Treats 'n' Eats, said at the time the trucks do better when they're in a group and sought to at least have two vendors per street.
Trucks still can't park directly in front of brick and mortar food venues.
Nalini Naidoo, the city's director of communications and economic development, said the change was made to level the playing field for all food vendors.
"In 2016, we wanted to ensure that everyone was treated equitably and fairly in the city," Naidoo said.
Asked why spots couldn't be designated for specific food trucks, Naidoo said it would take a large amount of staff time to organize and then time for bylaw officers to place bags on the parking meters at those spots.
That doesn't satisfy Kassem, who said if the bylaw officers are already out on the streets checking meters and issuing tickets, they have time to place a bag on a meter.
The city had carried out an online survey seeking input on changes between last year and this one for the food truck rules.
One part of the survey offered five options for regulations. Of the 282 respondents, 59.9 per cent wanted no restrictions on food truck locations - with the exception of alleys - while 65.9 per cent also supported a temporary food court at the vacant lot at the corner of 50 Avenue and 50 Street owned by the city.
The survey also shows the response to a separate question about business impacts. Eleven business owners responded to say their operation was negatively affected. Five others responded that it brought in more traffic, while 29 responded it had no noticeable impact.
The debate is scheduled to continue today at the city's municipal services committee meeting.
