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City Council Agenda Request
July 17, 2018
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AGENDA REQUEST NO: VI.A.
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| | AGENDA OF: City Council Meeting |
| INITIATED BY: Keehren Baah, Senior Planner
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| | PRESENTED BY: Keehren Baah, Senior Planner |
| | RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development Services |
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| | | | | | | | | AGENDA CAPTION: | | Review of and discussion on Mobile Food Vendors Strategic Project. |
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION: | | Review of and discussion on Mobile Food Vendors Strategic Project. |
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| | | | | | | | | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: | This item is before the City Council to provide an update and solicit direction on the ordinance for mobile food vendors, also known as food trucks, in the City of Sugar Land. The purpose of this strategic project is to define the vision for mobile food vendors in the City. Mobile food vendors and food truck parks are growing in popularity across the nation. City Council expressed interest in learning about food trucks in order to determine the best options for them in the City of Sugar Land. Staff presented a brief outline of possible benefits, approaches, and considerations to Council at the FY15 Mid-year Retreat. In FY16, the strategic project was created and the Land Use Plan Task Force was designated as the Council committee that would provide guidance on it. At that time, staff began work to gain City Council consensus on their vision for food trucks in Sugar Land, including approved locations, type of vendors and operational details.
In January 2017, staff presented draft operational standards to City Council in a workshop. Council concurred with staff’s recommendations and provided direction for staff to complete the operational and implementation phase, which was Phase II of the strategic project. Since that time, staff has been drafting the framework of an ordinance to amend Article IV (Food and Food Services) of Chapter 3 in the Code of Ordinances to include mobile food vendors. Multiple City departments were involved in research and drafting the framework, including Planning, Economic Development, Fire, Food Inspections, Legal and Parks. Through research and continued work, it was discovered there was no standard approach to local government food truck regulations. However, staff believes the proposed framework will establish reasonable regulations for food trucks to operate in the City of Sugar Land, appropriate minimum requirements for food and fire safety, approved locations, and the processes through which food trucks will be permitted. In addition, the Parks Department is developing a policy outlining parameters for trucks to operate in City parks.
In FY18, as part of this project, staff worked with a group of area food truck vendors to get their feedback on the proposed regulations. Staff met with the group in June 2018 to continue dialogue and received positive feedback on the framework. Staff will continue to work with this group as the new regulations are implemented in the future.
At this time, staff recommends holding a workshop to review and discuss the final draft framework. During the workshop, staff will outline the major elements of the framework in anticipation of bringing forward a draft ordinance for consideration and approval on two readings at subsequent City Council meetings in August.
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| BUDGET |
| | EXPENDITURE REQUIRED: N/A |
| | CURRENT BUDGET: N/A |
| | ADDITIONAL FUNDING: N/A |
| | FUNDING SOURCE:N/A |
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