STAFF REPORT - CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY

Staff is recommending the City Council direct staff to initiate and proceed with a zoning text amendment to develop food truck regulations based on the proposed criteria submitted in this report.  

On June 16, 2022, the City Council directed staff to begin working with the Planning Commission to develop a regulatory framework for permitting food trucks in the city of Coalinga since the current regulation in place prohibits the ability for food trucks to operate in the City.

On July 26, 2022, City staff and the Planning Commission met to discuss setting a regulatory framework for permitting food trucks in the City of Coalinga. The recommended regulatory framework has been provided in this report and staff is requesting the Council direct staff to develop an ordinance regulating food trucks on the city.   

The Community Development Department in discussion with the Planning Commission is proposing the following recommendations as a basis for developing an ordinance related to food trucks.

Currently the City has a definition for a mobile vendor and mobile vendor vehicle:

Mobile food truck- A licensed, motorized vehicle or mobile food unit licensed by the Department of California Department of Motor Vehicles, designed, and equipped to prepare, or serve, and sell food, and temporarily stored in a location where food items are sold to the general public. (The mobile food truck shall be licensed in accordance with the rules and regulations of any local, County, State and Federal agency having jurisdiction over the mobile food truck or products sold therein)

Below are the areas discussed at the Planning Commission related to adopting a regulatory framework for food trucks. These areas will be integrated into the ordinance as written unless the City Council has any comments or changes that they would like to see:

• Approval Process and/or Permit Type: Temporary Use Permit
• Location/Zones Permitted: Industrial, Commercial, Vacant lots, Existing businesses, Parking Lots
• ADA Accessibility in vacant lots
• Time Limitations:  7:00am – 10:00pm, extensions granted by City Manager)
• Utilities: Self-sufficient
• Distance from Brick and Mortar: None
• Parking Standards: 540 sq ft or 3 parking spaces. May not be in an ADA stall.
• No alcohol permitted
• Noise Standards: No music or loudspeakers
• Signage: 24 Square foot sandwich board sign
• Type of Vehicle: self-propelled and self-sufficient)
• Tables and Chairs: Yes, including the use of canopy’s and umbrellas.
• Concentration: no requirement, staff will have the ability under the Temporary Use Permit to condition the project that if the increase in concentration leads to traffic issues or any other code enforcement violations, the permit may be revoked.
• License and Insurance Requirements: Must provide county Health Department permit.
• Trash Receptacles: At least one visible trash receptacle for use by customers. The vendor shall regularly pick up, remove, and dispose of all trash or refuse from their operation that remains within two hundred feet (200') of the vendor’s location. They will have to coordinate with the City’s Solid Waste Hauler for collection is they are to be located in the space for more than one (1) month.  The vendor shall pick up, remove, and dispose of all trash prior to leaving the location.
• Code Enforcement: Permits shall not be granted if there is pending code enforcement action on the lot they are looking to locate.
• Private events: Food truck permits are not required for food trucks operating for a one-day private event or party located either on the site of the event or in the public right-of-way with no retail sale to the general public and no admission charge to the event. This could be for a commercial business party or for a private residence party. The food truck shall not take up more than one on-street parking space. 
• Additional Exemptions: Special fundraisers at the schools, college, and parks property or other public property. This also includes fundraisers by non-profits so long as the event does not last more than (1) day. Same criteria applies as mentioned in the private even section. 

If the Council directs staff to initiate a zoning text amendment, staff will prepare an ordinance for Planning Commission recommendation and Council subsequent approval.