Food Truck Street Vending Inquiry

June 20th, 2012 in 2010-2013 Term, A beautiful city, A profitable and prosperous city, Economy, Smarter Planning

Following up on some feedback from food vendors and Mack Male’s thoughtful analysis, I submitted the following formal inquiry at Council today aimed at making it easier to operate this type of business:

Given the number of new food trucks appearing on city streets, and the largely positive reception they are receiving, please provide a report to the appropriate committee on the applicable rules and procedures in the City’s Street Vending Program.

Specifically, please advise on whether the rules and procedures need refinement and whether any policy changes are needed to streamline business for mobile food vendors, including but not limited to: easing location and time restrictions, cost structure refinements, clarity around permit issuance, and clarity around handling complaints from other business.

It should come back early in the fall.

4 thoughts on “Food Truck Street Vending Inquiry”

  1. Thanks, Don. Your support is appreciated.

    Here we are, trying to do everything in our power to revitalize downtown Edmonton, and archaic rules and regulations (or lack thereof) are getting in the way of progress. Mack Male made many excellent points.

    I am a long-time ‘west-ender’ guilty of virtually abandoning the downtown decades ago. When The Bay ended their Christmas window displays the dominos started to fall.

    It was the street food experience that brought my wife and me back to the dimly lit downtown streets again. Through that experience we have come to embrace the city core once again. We are confident the downtown will continue to revive and as a result we’re actually considering relocating to a condo or loft in the city core (or perhaps the “Blatchford Field” developments).

    Now if only the City could do something about all the businesses that go totally dark in the evening. Is there some incentive that the City could give to businesses to leave their establishments lit up in the evening and make the area more pedestrian friendly. Who knows, maybe it would attract more daytime business if those of us who are only downtown after sunset could see what retail and hospitality establishments are there.

    Richard

  2. I think street vendors are a great idea. I also think the LRT stations could benefit from more vendors (the only one I can think of is the Clairview Station at that is not a mobile one)

  3. Don
    While going forward on this initiative, it will be constructive and perhaps less ” beaurocratic” to get involved the members of the street food scene.
    As the owner of FAT FRANKS, anfd the ground breaker in street vending in Edmonton. Ithink we understand the business all to well and should be consulted so we can share such knowledge for bthe better of all street food vendors.
    Ps – Barry Sawchuk, with the City, has enormous vision and experience on this portfolio and should be included.
    Thank you

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