HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-19-2013 ac rowley ph1RFËËTVËD
AGENDA NOV I 8 Zot¡
co
Date l\iiQlli'rte CÏTY CLËRK
November L8,20L3
Re: Public Hearing ltem #L, Review of Mobile Food Vendor Ordinance - Ordinance lntroduction
Mayor Marx and Members of the Council,
RQN recommends that Mobile Food Vendors be allowed to operate in residential neighborhoods
only from LL:00 am - 2:00 pm, be allowed to remain in one location no longerthan one hour and,
after this time has elapsed, required to move at least 300 feet away before vending again, Although
we are concerned about more commercial enterprises being allowed in the City's residential
neighborhoods, staff advised us that residential neighborhoods could not be exempt.
On August 15,20L2, the RQN Board received a presentation by staff regarding the necessity of
drafting an ordinance to regulate mobile food vendors, and responded to staff's request for input.
Staff, also, explained that banning the trucks from residential neighborhoods would not be allowed
under current State law. ln response, the Board provided several recommendations including that
the City adopt a plan similar to that of Portland, Oregon, where mobile food vendors were allowed
only in designated public parking lots; that if their operation in residentialzones could not be
prohibited, it be limited to the 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. long lunch hour; that the amount of time
vendors are allowed to operate in one location be limited; that some provision be made for the trash
generated; and that some regulation of the noise they could produce be included.
The Board was concerned that the trucks would create a traffic hazard on residential streets for
people, bikes and cars because of the narrowness of the streets, the difficulty seeing past parked
cars and the difficulty often experienced when two cars try to pass each other, and because the
trucks would entice groups who do not live in the neighborhood to enter and congregate there.
We concluded that allowing mobile food trucks in neighborhoods would compromise the safety of
residents in addition to altering the character of and the quality of life in the neighborhoods.
On NovemberL4,2OL2, the Board received a follow-up presentation from staff. Atthattime staff
indicated they were recommending that the mobile food vendors be allowed to park in residential
neighborhoods from 7:00 a.m, until 7:00 p.m. Staff explained this would coincide with the noise
ordinance regarding the hours construction and other workers were allowed to work in residential
neighborhoods, The amount of time a vendor could remain parked in one place was not addressed
Last week when the Staff Report became available, we were surprised to discover that staff is now
recommending a 7:00 a.m. to L0:00 p.m. time period for the mobile food vendors to operate in
residential neighborhoods. We note there is still no recommendation for limiting the amount of
time a vendor can remain parked in one place.
Staff's recommendation to allow mobile food vendors to operate in residential neighborhoods until
L0 p.m. is far too late. At a time when Cal Poly is trying to move nighttime activities out of our
residential neighborhoods by offering alternate on-campus activities, the City should not be
promoting a new venue in residential neighborhoods where individuals can congregate and chat.
t
RQN remains very concerned that the additional foot, bicycle and vehicle traffic generated by the
presence of mobile food trucks in residential neighborhoods will exacerbate the unsafe conditions
that already exist on many of our residential streets, ln addition to narrow streets and parked cars
obstructing visibility, there may be pedestrians and drivers who are unfamiliar with a particular
neighborhood and inadvertently create added safety hazards. We remain concerned that the mobile
food trucks will be enticing to individuals who are looking for places to congregate and visit with one
another.
Although we would prefer that residential neighborhoods, other than those under construction, be
exempt from the requirement to host mobile food vendors, since staff indicated that was not an
option, we think the L1:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m, timeframe would be the best fit. lt would allow anyone
who lives or works in a residential neighborhood (construction workers, handymen, painters,
plumbers, gardeners, etc.) the opportunity to utilize the services of a mobile food vendor with
minimum safety concerns and minimum infringement on the residential character of the
neighborhood.
The continued efforts to allow commercial enterprises into our residential neighborhoods is very
disturbing to many of us. Business operations in residential neighborhoods threaten the safety of
our residents and alter the neighborhood character and quality of life that people expect when they
choose to purchase a home. Allowing mobile food vendors into our neighborhoods at night will only
worsen our existing problems. Please protect the safety of our neighborhoods and work to prevent
further deterioration in the quality of life our residents are experiencing.
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
2