Isanti Council approves ordinance tightening rules for mobile food units near events and restaurants

The Isanti City Council on a 5-0 vote adopted amendments to Chapter 2.45 of the city code that set new distance limits for mobile food units around festivals and brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Staff told the council the ordinance, as posted and discussed at prior meetings, would prohibit mobile food units from locating within 500 feet of the perimeter of any preapproved festival, sporting event or civic event unless the unit is licensed as part of that event. The ordinance also would bar mobile food units from locating within 200 feet of a restaurant’s primary entrance unless the restaurant grants written permission or is closed during the mobile vendor’s hours of operation. "Distances shall be measured from the primary entrance of the restaurant," staff said during the presentation.

Council members voiced practical concerns about the 500-foot festival buffer, saying it could unintentionally require established vendors who operate regularly near an event site to relocate. "If there's something set up on more of a permanent basis, is it going to have to move if it's within 500 feet of a special event?" Mayor James Gordon said during the discussion. Staff responded that a special-event permit-holder typically carries liability for event vendors and that the rule is intended to stop outsiders from piggybacking on ticketed or sanctioned events.

Council debated whether a shorter 200-foot buffer might be more appropriate in some situations and noted that the ordinance must be reposted for a required 10-day public-notice period if changes are made before final codification. After discussion, Councilman Lundin moved to approve the ordinance language as posted; Councilman Heaman seconded and the motion passed 5-0. The council did not identify any immediate changes to the text; staff noted cost for code codification if later revisions are adopted.

The ordinance text as read by staff specifies measurement rules for restaurants in multi-tenant facilities and requires written permission from restaurant owners when a mobile food unit applies for a license to operate within 200 feet of a primary entrance. The council’s approval follows prior discussion at the Committee of the Whole and a public posting period.

The city will post the approved ordinance and proceed with codification and enforcement steps; staff said complaints and permit enforcement would be reactive to incidents reported by event organizers or residents.