King City moves forward with staff recommendations for food truck regulations

KING CITY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The King City council has decided to move forward with staff recommendations to change its mobile food vendor ordinance Tuesday during their meeting.

They say it will help boost business for vendors and will not likely impact local businesses.

The two recommendations city leaders will continue to discuss, are:

• Allowing 815 Broadway Street to obtain up to two temporary use permits for food trucks to operate an additional four days per week while La Cocina is not operating (except Saturdays).

• Coordinating with First Tee on for a conditional use permit to allow up to two food trucks at the Golf Course up to five days per week, excluding Saturdays.

This comes after the King City council considered a change in regulation for mobile food vendors as a response to multiple inquiries over the years regarding regulations for operating on private property and within the public right-of-way.

City Manager Steven Adams drafted the proposal, and according to Adams, food trucks are currently only allowed on public property at specified locations at San Antonio Park or on private property under approval of a Temporary Use Permit for one year maximum.

During the council's September 24 meeting, City Council expressed interest in allowing more food truck opportunities while at the same time, preventing competition between brick and mortar businesses. They choose to return to the discussion with revised recommendations addressing these issues.

The argument against releasing some food truck restrictions, according to Adams, is:

"Staff’s primary concern with food trucks has been that making it easier for food trucks to operate will be counterproductive to the City’s efforts to attract more brick and mortar restaurants because it presents a much less expensive option for new start up businesses. With a large portion of retail moving to online sales, restaurants and other entertainment-oriented uses are now critical to make downtowns successful. King City’s small population can only support a limited number of restaurant businesses at this time."

However, city staff said they were open to offering a temporary use permit to allow food trucks opportunities to operate a limited number of days, expanded hours, in addition to added food trucks in the area.

There were a few alternative solutions provided, including no changes to current regulations; exclude mobile vendors' temporary use permits; create a different specified location within the city for food trucks; allow food trucks to operate if they are an extension of an existing bar or restaurant; or setting food trucks with specific criteria and standards.