New rules put distance between food trucks, brick-and-mortar eateries

CEDAR RAPIDS – Some weeks, Bridget McMenomy says she gets daily inquiries from people with interest in starting up a food truck business.

'It's definitely frequent that we're getting people stopping in or calling,” said McMenomy, license specialist with the Cedar Rapids City Clerk's Office. So far, the city has issued licenses to five food trucks and three ice cream truck businesses.

In an effort to create more defined guidelines for such businesses, the Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the first of three required readings of amendments to city code as it pertains to food carts, food trucks and other mobile food vending units.

Council member Scott Olson was absent from the meeting.

The new rules are geared toward public safety, but also address competition that could arise between mobile vendors and established brick-and-mortar businesses.

'I've heard from downtown restaurant owners and I've heard from vendors that our ordinance is out of date and needs a good overhaul,” said Council member Ann Poe, adding she believes the new rules are thorough and well-researched. 'I think it was long overdue and I know that a lot of our restaurateurs appreciate it, as well as our vendors.”

Regulations being discussed would implement separation rules to prohibit food vendors from operating within 100 feet of brick-and-mortar restaurants or within 35 feet of stop signs in the lane of approach. Vendors would also have to maintain specified distances from ongoing public events, particularly those with participating food suppliers.

Poe said she hopes the city explores the possibilities of food vendor-oriented events as well.

Another rule would prohibit mobile vendors from operating between 2 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

Bill Micheel, Cedar Rapids assistant director of community development, said the amendments were made to balance the desires gathered during a public input session earlier this year.

'The catalyst for all this was we started to see a significant increase in people interested in starting mobile food vending units, particularly food trucks. Our current ordinance did not really do a good job addressing all the potential issues associated with those,” Micheel said.

McMenomy said a food truck license costs $200 per year and an ice cream truck license costs $150. Both licenses must be renewed annually. She said there is a possibility city officials might create short-term licenses for businesses that don't operate year-round.