Council tables changes to food-truck rules after residents raise concerns about fees and requirements

University Heights councilors on April 6 tabled proposed changes to Chapter 880 of the city code that would move mobile-food permitting and inspections in-house under the fire prevention bureau and set a $10 daily operation fee in addition to a yearly application.

Resident Harry Shapiro told council the draft ordinance appeared to require vendors to obtain a permit "each time it operates in the city," a rule he said would be onerous for vendors who operate repeatedly. "A permit is required every time it operates in the city," Shapiro said, describing how many vendors operate on a recurring weekly schedule and warning the requirement could discourage regular vendors.

Mr. Parker, presenting the ordinance on behalf of the safety committee, said the "intent is to file for one permit a year" and staff added reciprocal-inspection language to accept a compliant inspection report from a neighboring county fire department. Staff explained the $75 inspection is a one-time fire-department inspection fee while the city would collect a $10-per-day operation fee for days worked in the city; council and staff debated whether the code's wording requires a permit each day or only an annual application plus daily validation.

Council members raised several concerns including the meaning of "unattended" (a resident preferred "not left unattended while in operation"), how the city would collect the $10 daily fee, and when reciprocal inspections would satisfy city requirements. Council Member Wiser suggested referring the matter back to the safety committee; Council Member Stokes moved to table the ordinance to the next council meeting so legal and drafting questions could be resolved. The motion to table passed by roll call.

Councilors said staff will return with clarified language on which fees are annual and which are daily, clearer definitions for "unattended" and details about reciprocal inspection acceptance. The item remains scheduled for the next meeting for second-reading action and possible adoption.