Calistoga council reviews draft mobile‑food vending ordinance; concerns raised for small vendors and youth groups

Planning and Building Director Greg Desmond told the City Council on Dec. 3 that the city needs a comprehensive mobile food vending ordinance because a prior edit had removed provisions that covered mobile carts. Desmond said the proposed amendments will require vending operators to obtain a business license, a local permit and, for food sales, an environmental‑health certificate.

The council and members of the public raised several recurring concerns: whether small push‑cart operators would be priced out, how fees would be set and whether the ordinance would inadvertently require nonprofit youth groups and door‑to‑door sellers (Girl Scouts, lemonade stands) to obtain permits. Desmond said the draft follows state mandates and would allow the city to require permits and compliance with the city’s foodware (compostable containers) rules. He estimated the permit cost for a food truck might be "likely gonna be a hundred or less than a hundred dollars," though fees had not been finalized.

Council focused on enforcement and outreach: members asked staff to ensure materials are available in Spanish, to consider how enforcement would treat employees vs. corporate owners of mobile units (staff said the permittee would be the owner/operator), and to seek a narrow enforcement directive to avoid burdening nonprofit youth groups. The item was discussed and staff said they will return with a formal introduction after follow‑up on exemptions, fee levels and outreach plans.

No ordinance was adopted tonight; the council treated the item as a public hearing/discussion and directed staff to return with a formal introduction at a future meeting.