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At its April 2 meeting, the San Juan Bautista Planning Commission considered changes to ordinances to better allow for pop-up vendor events and for the short-term and long-term presence of food trucks within the city limits.
City Manager Don Reynolds acknowledged the “support and interest in the community around food trucks of all kinds,” saying that it was time for the city to examine some of the more restrictive regulations governing them.
In a memo issued by Reynolds, included in the agenda packet, he said that brick-and-mortar businesses are concerned that food trucks present an “unwelcome form of competition.” However, he said, “Recent trends support the diversity that food trucks and pop-up vendors bring to the community, that they attract more visitors and can be a benefit to the whole economy.”
The city met last Nov. 4 with stakeholders and community members to discuss fairness with code enforcement, streamlining the processes to obtain a business license and health and safety issues.
The need for such an ordinance became an ongoing topic of conversation at Planning Commission and San Juan Bautista City Council meetings following public outcry over citations issued to the Hapa Bros. food truck in April 2023.
Reynolds characterized the proposed ordinance as similar to one recently adopted by the city of Hollister, which defines zoning areas where food trucks can operate and increases time limits on short-term permits. In Hollister, this has resulted in the trucks becoming regular fixtures on privately owned lots around town and at events like the Farmers Market and Food Truck Tuesdays.
In her presentation at the meeting, acting Community Development Director Adrianna Ortiz said that the ordinances would consider outdoor uses such as product displays, sales, dining, amplified music and other services. She said city staff would seek input from the engineering, fire and sheriff’s departments, as well as Code Enforcement and Recology, in crafting the ordinances.
A draft of the new Mobile Food Vending Ordinance was presented at the meeting and is included on pages 45-53 of the agenda packet.
A public workshop on the ordinance is set for May 18.
Under the new ordinance, food trucks at fixed locations would be able to operate from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Those operating from temporary locations or on streets can operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for up to six hours per day per location.
The ordinance would limit sales to food items and non-alcoholic beverages only. Businesses offering fresh fruit or vegetables would be limited to only those products and could operate only from sunrise to sunset.
Food trucks would not be allowed to operate on city streets within 200 feet of a school, high collision area, or another food truck. They would also need to be parked 500 feet from each other on four-lane or arterial roads and would not be permitted within 40 feet of an intersection or 20 feet of a driveway.
Truck owners would be required to provide trash receptacles and would not be allowed to have chairs or tables on the street or sidewalk.
To apply for a permit, the trucks would have to prove compliance with state and local laws by submitting a state tax permit, a business tax certificate, a city license and a health permit issued by the county. Long-term operators would also need to submit a “use of restroom facilities” form.
The May 18 public workshop is set for 1 p.m. at the San Juan Bautista Public Library.
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