By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
At last Tuesday’s Prattville City Council meeting, councilmembers voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that will allow food trucks to become more widely available across the city.
The draft agenda packet states: The general purpose of this section is to promote the health, safety, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of the citizens of Prattville by establishing reasonable guidelines and regulations for mobile food vehicles, to regulate where they may be located for the protection of other businesses, and to provide for the safe and convenient use of the city’s public rights-of-way.”
It goes on to say that mobile food vendors will not be permitted to operate within any residential zones of the city unless they are temporarily operated for specific events and have prior written approval from the city’s Finance Department and Planning Department.
Any person or company wanting to operate a food truck may do so, but they must first have a mobile food vendor license and fill out an application provided by the City’s finance department.
There are also 28 restrictions/guidelines that will help shape the way the vendors can operate. Some of the highlights are below:
- No vendor shall operate on more than two individual sites per day.
- Mobile food vendors shall not store, park or leave any mobile food vehicle overnight on any city right-of way, easement or city property.
- Normal hours of operation are from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. unless otherwise approved by the Finance Director and Planning Director.
- No mobile food vehicle shall operate within 150 feet from the entrance of an operational restaurant, unless a letter of consent is provided by the restaurant.
- The sale of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products from a mobile food vendor is prohibited.
- The sale of merchandise from a mobile food vendor is prohibited.
The full section describing all 28 restrictions and the approval process for operating a mobile food truck can be viewed at: https://weblink.prattvilleal.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=277269&dbid=0&repo=Prattville
Finance Director, Daniel Oakley, says that the ordinance will help to enhance eating opportunities for citizens of Prattville and beyond.
“These food trucks are a national trend, and we’re seeing them pop up in larger cities all across the county,” Oakley said.
“It’s an avenue for people with an entrepreneurial spirit to thrive, will help act as an incubator for our local economy, and gives the people of Prattville more choices for food experience.”
Before the passing of the ordinance, food trucks were not allowed anywhere unless it was a special event, Oakley explained.
The people Prattville seem to be on board as well.
“I love food trucks and I think they’ll be a really nice touch to have across the city,” said one Prattville resident.
Sam Kahlil, Co-Owner of NYC Gyro in Montgomery, says that the passing of this ordinance could attract them to the Prattville area.
“We haven’t really had the opportunity to come to Prattville before, but we will definitely follow up on it. It sounds like a great thing and I think that’s a place that we’d certainly look into go to more often,” Khalil said.
There is an exemption for ice cream peddlers, as they do not have to have a mobile food vending license. Instead, they must obtain a city business license as an ice cream peddler.
Each vendor is subject to a fine of up to $500 for each guideline that is violated.
