Norris sets hearing for food trucks
An ordinance that would allow food trucks and associated mobile food vendors to operate within the city of Norris will be the topic of a public hearing by the City Council at 7 p.m. Monday (Nov. 7) at the Norris Community Center.
The council set the hearing after about an hour of debate on a proposed food truck ordinance during a special meeting last Wednesday night (Oct. 26). The draft ordinance was prepared by the city’s Community Development Board earlier this year, and is now making its way through the council’s approval process.
Food trucks are not now allowed to set up in Norris. But a new business in the Anderson Crossing shopping center on Andersonville Highway, The Dam Bar, has been hosting a food truck for several days each week since it opened in early October, in violation of the city’s ordinances, council members were told during a special meeting last week.
Mayor Chris Mitchell said earlier that he had spoken with the owner of the bar and explained that food trucks are not currently allowed, and the council had expected a representative from the bar to show up at last week’s meeting to give input in the food truck ordinance discussion.
“They know they’re in violation,” Mitchell said during last week’s meeting.
The city’s proposed ordinance is similar to one passed last year by the Clinton City Council, but still to be determined is what limits might be imposed on food truck appearances in Norris, how much permits might cost, how they would be inspected for health and fire hazards, and other issues.
Council members debated about whether food trucks should be permitted to operate only during special events, or, to the other extreme, on an unlimited basis, but no consensus was reached.
The council also wants to consider the detrimental effects that food truck operations might have on brick-and-mortar restaurants within the city limits, and what regulations might be needed to ensure that the trucks are not given precedence over established restaurants.
According to the draft ordinance, the purpose of the measure would be: “To recognize the unique physical and operational characteristics of mobile food vending and establish standards for the typical range of activities and prohibit practices that are contrary to the health, safety and welfare of the public.”
The draft, as written, would require each mobile food vehicle to pay an annual fee of $50 for a permit to operate in Norris. But Norris Councilwoman Loretta Painter said Monday that she believes that fee should be higher.
Also, the draft ordinance specifies where the trucks would be allowed to operate, among other restrictions. One such restriction in the draft would limit a truck’s visit to the city to 72 hours at a time.
Safety regulations would not allow cooking to take place while the vehicle is in motion. And no sound-amplifying devices would be allowed on the outside of the vehicle.
No detached signs would be permitted, and each vendor would be required to provide for the sanitary collection and disposal of all waste from the vehicle, including gray water and fryer oil.