08/15/2016
The City of Murfreesboro is seeking public input as the City Council looks to adopt new regulations in the City Code on food trucks operating within the City limits.
A public stakeholders meeting for food truck operators, restaurant owners, and interested citizens is scheduled at two times in an effort to better accommodate food industry professionals. The public meetings will be held Monday, August 15, 2016, from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. and from 5 p.m.-7 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 111 West Vine Street, 37130. City Staff and members of the Murfreesboro City Council will be on hand to engage attendees.
A City of Murfreesboro “Food Truck Ordinance” page has been established to facilitate public awareness and public input on the proposed ordinance. Visit the new page at
https://www.facebook.com/City-of-Murfreesboro-Food-Truck-Ordinance-1759455847600427/
“The revised ordinance intends to balance the desire for loosening restrictions on food trucks in the City limits of Murfreesboro with the desire to maintain regulations necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens,” said Assistant City Manager Jennifer Moody. “Looking at nearby communities, we see the creativity and excitement that the food truck industry can generate. We want to work collaboratively with operators and restaurants to see how changes in the way we regulated this industry could benefit our downtown, City parks, and community events.”
The proposed food truck ordinance comes in response to growing demand for mobile food vending by customers and operators as well as organizers of special community events. The Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department supports the operation of food trucks at park-sponsored events.
Under Ordinance 16-0-32, the Murfreesboro City Code, Chapter 13 for Food and Food Products is amended to add six sections regarding Mobile Food Vending. The new regulations define food trucks, locations and hours of operations, operating requirements, mobile food service permits, and food truck rally permits. The newly proposed, draft Ordinance is available for the public to review on the City’s website:
http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4226 or look for “draft food truck ordinance” under the “Doing Business” tab on the City’s homepage at www.murfreesborotn.gov.
In seeking flexibility, the proposed ordinance outlines a proposed list of designated locations that include the public right-of-way (specified downtown streets), public property (City parks, specified City parking lots, other sites listed on City website), and private property zoned for retail and restaurant uses and permitted by the property owner in writing. The ordinance also regulates the frequency of food trucks operating on private property, the maximum number of trucks at any location, and the amount of parking space utilized (no more than 25 percent of existing spaces).
“Our intent with managing locations administratively is to be able to respond quickly to valid requests to consider new locations,” added Moody. “Placing responsibility at the administrative level will allow the ordinance to be efficiently adjusted when necessary, such as for large events or the particular needs of a park venue.”
Murfreesboro’s proposed ordinance was modeled after similar ordinances in Knoxville and Chattanooga to allow flexibility for vendors. Mobile Food Service application permits were intentionally set low to encourage operators too easily seek permits. However, violators found operating without a permit incur a stiff penalty.
• Application Permit Fee, $50 for one-year term.
• Temporary Permit for operating without a Permit, maximum $500.
Enforcement of Mobile Food Service permit compliance will be administered by the City Manager and Planning Department Director.
All related documents and maps regarding the proposed Food Truck Ordinance and Regulations is available on the City webpage, at Food Truck Permits webpage
http://www.murfreesborotn.gov/index.aspx?NID=928.
