Looks like the County's role in regulating food trucks is pretty small. So, on to the City.
About that City ban on trucks downtown...Maybe I've missed the answers to some elementary questions this summer, but:
- What was the process behind the ban?
- Who proposed it?
- How was it enacted -- was there a Council vote? If so, what was the breakdown of that vote? UPDATE: The recent N&R article says "The Greensboro City Council banned most food trucks downtown last year, when it passed a series of new rules involving roadside food vendors." Anyone got a date for that meeting? /update UPDATE II: Thanks to Cecelia for providing a link to the minutes; the ordinance passed unanimously, after being continued from previous meetings, and without much input from the food truckers. /update
- If not, who ordered the change?
- What arguments were made, by whom, for and against it?
Any hint about where the ban is constituted? Is it an ordinance, the directive of a department? Knowing that might help find answers to your questions.
Posted by: Roch | Aug 21, 2012 at 09:55 AM
Ed, the ordinance was amended at the May 3, 2011 Council meeting. I looked at the minutes from that meeting online this morning. There are no details on why it was reviewed or amended. You can check them out here: http://greensboro.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=greensboro_bff93ee17fb4a1af352c26ecfc6349f1.pdf&view=1
Let me know if you find anything else. Cecelia
Posted by: Cecelia Thompson | Aug 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Cecilia is correct, it was approved unanimously by council.
The agenda item was described in the council minutes (p. 20) as being a "Recommendation from the March 16, 2011 Planning Board meeting."
The Planning Board web page shows no public meeting for March 16, 2011 and the minutes of meetings close to that date do not record any mention of this issue.
Posted by: Roch | Aug 21, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Sorry, here are the minutes from the Planning Board Meeting.
Posted by: Roch | Aug 21, 2012 at 10:48 AM
According to the minutes, there was no discussion about banning food trucks from downtown at the planning board meeting, but it ended up in the language recommended by the planning board to city council, so it got inserted somewhere between the two public hearings.
If I were not already getting the slow-walk from the City on some month's old records requests, I'd try to find out how downtown came into the picture by making a public records request for communications the city has on the issue.
Posted by: Roch | Aug 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM
EC says: "What was the process behind the ban?"
I've wondered the same thing, Ed.
"You've heard all the answers but the questions remain
Grab a hold of that fistful of rain"...Warren Zevon
Posted by: Tony Wilkins | Aug 21, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Pure speculation, but I wonder if there is a connection between this and the fact that the only way the City could resolve the complete food chaos surrounding A&T Homecoming was to move from being a co-sponsor of the parade to the organizer of the entire food court. Perhaps realizing the steps they had to take there and seeing the High Point situation beginning to reach those proportions, maybe they decided to "protect" downtown. Sometimes zeal obfuscates common sense.
Posted by: Peggy Hickle | Aug 21, 2012 at 02:46 PM
Oops -- High Point ROAD, not High Point -- there's barely any food, far less food chaos in High Point.
Posted by: Peggy Hickle | Aug 21, 2012 at 02:48 PM
Anyone know what type of fees are associated with food trucks that can park in other parts of the city? Seems this is a lost revenue stream for the city.
Seems this is a good opportunity to create competition (not a bad thing) and choices within downtown.
Hope all is well.
Ryan
Posted by: Ryan Shell | Aug 22, 2012 at 01:18 PM
Watched a show last night about food and Austin Tx. I caught only the tail end of the piece but it looked like they have a food truck trailer park area. I could be wrong there. But it seemed cool.
Looking forward to the Food Truck Festival thingy.
Still havent heard if this is a "kid friendly" or more 21 and up event.
Does Gso really have a ban on street entertainers? That is one of my favorite things in Asheville.
Posted by: Mick | Aug 22, 2012 at 03:22 PM
As I noted in a previous thread on this topic, creating pods or zones for food trucks is the way quite a few cities do this. It seems to work just fine.
Posted by: Andrew Brod | Aug 22, 2012 at 03:36 PM
Where are the bounderies of the exclusion zone?
Posted by: Ginia Zenke | Aug 24, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Mick, the Spring Garden Food Truck Festival is "kid friendly". Pet friendly I believe as well.
www.facebook.com/pages/Spring-Garden-Food-Truck-Festival/405813872800174
Posted by: Jim | Aug 31, 2012 at 03:10 PM
I saw there were at least some outdoor acts, etc. Now I guess it is all about the weather. Looking forward to it. Really am.
Mick
Posted by: Mick | Aug 31, 2012 at 03:18 PM