‘Food truck movement’ heading to Cedar Rapids?

CEDAR RAPIDS - For Kelli Evans, owner the Grateful Crepe, the recipe for operating a successful food truck does not include stamping out the competition.

Instead, Evans wants more mobile food vendors and she supports the city's new push for formal regulations as it tries to embrace the niche.

'I'm a huge proponent of really trying to get a huge food truck movement here in Cedar Rapids like you see in a lot of other cities - Chicago, Portland, Minneapolis,” said Evans, who parks outside the U.S. Bank Building, 222 Second Ave. SE, and is a staple of the downtown lunch hour. 'I think the city needs a food truck ordinance, but I don't think it needs to be super restrictive.”

Citing 'rapid growth” in interest in food trucks, Cedar Rapids officials are developing the city's first-ever food truck ordinance.

The city has scheduled two public informational meetings about the ordinance, which would also cover other mobile vendors such as ice cream trucks and food carts, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday and from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday in the City Hall lower-level training room.

'The city has seen an increased level of interest in this type of business model,” said Bill Micheel, assistant director of community development. 'This spring, as it gets warmer, we are hearing from more people who are potentially interested in operating a food truck in Cedar Rapids.”

Micheel said at a public meeting last month that the food truck market is relatively new in Cedar Rapids, which has four food trucks licensed.

Iowa City, after conducting a pilot program, last spring adopted a mobile food truck ordinance. Among other things, it prohibits food trucks within 150 feet of a restaurant and in residential areas, forbids the sale of alcohol, establishes hours of operation and requires permits.

Cedar Rapids food truck vendors are required to get a transient merchant license, which specifies where they can operate. They must also get a license from Linn County Public Health and are subject to inspections by the health department.

Evans said it costs a couple hundred dollars annually for the different fees.

City leaders are getting feedback on what the ordinance will say, but in general it will provide a consistent set of rules that address safety, ensure vendors don't poach from traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants and markets, and where and when a license is required, according to information from the city.

Some established merchants have expressed concern about food trucks parked in front of their shop or across the street hurting business, which is another impetus for developing an ordinance, Micheel said.

'I love the food trucks, but I also empathize with the business owners who are trying to make a living with their restaurants as well,” City Council member Ann Poe said upon hearing the plans.

Micheel said he doesn't anticipate a substantially different cost for vendors under new rules. A final draft of the ordinance could come to the City Council in May.

Evans said she can't say whether she likes the ordinance because the specifics aren't defined yet. She agrees one is needed, and that it's important to not impinge on existing businesses.

Evans said she has a vision of a concentration of food trucks lining up at a location, such as around Greene Square, over the lunch hour or for special events. It would bring more vibrancy downtown with people congregating outdoors.

'If we could all park in one general vicinity it would be another draw to the downtown area,” Evans said. 'We'd all park around Greene Square, and people could walk up for a sandwich or crepe or something else.”

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com