Food fight: More rules for food trucks in city?

Councilman proposes new citywide rule on where food trucks can park

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More food trucks are making there way to Jacksonville, and more rules to regulate them could be coming as well.

New rules proposed by the City Council could limit where the trucks can park.

Currently, food trucks that do business downtown can't be within 50 feet of a traditional restaurant. But legislation being introduced in City Council would make that a requirement citywide, unless food truck vendors have written permission from the restaurant.

"Another hurdle," said Gaye Kramer, owner of Rock Star Burger. "Basically, it's hard enough to get started and to keep going. Just one more thing we'll have to deal with."

Councilman Reggie Brown is introducing the legislation. He said it's only fair, because brick and mortar restaurants pay property taxes.

He said some tweaks might be added that would define whether the restaurant owner or the building landlord would have to provide the written permission.

"We are not trying to harm the food truck vendors," Reggie Brown said. "In fact, we welcome food truck vendors. We just want to make sure we maintain a certain level of order within our community. Ninety-nine percent of the food truck vendors are doing great."

Chriss Brown, who is not related to the councilman, owns Say Cheese and heads up Jax Truckies, a local food truck organization. She was surprised about the legislation, because the food truck owners just went through the same argument over the legislation governing downtown.

"We had 50 trucks involved in the previous legislation, so I'm not sure why none of us were emailed," Chriss Brown said. "The people that wrote the legislation to begin with have not emailed about this."

Chriss Brown said food trucks are good for the economy and are great for Jacksonville. She plans to be at the City Council meeting Tuesday. 


About the Author:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.