The debate over food truck regulation has been going on for months. City Council has been discussing applying the restaurant tax to trucks, and now more regulations.
The Food Truck Association and the Mayor’s office have been negotiating how and when food trucks can operate and City Council will see the new ordinance next week.
“It's been a long time coming and it has been crazy trying to keep up with what you can what we can't do, what we get in trouble for, what we are willing to get in trouble for,” said Jarrod Lane, the executive chef for Peanut Butter and Johnny’s.
The new ordinance will go before city council, breaking down the rules for food trucks.
“I think it is a good compromise between government and the industry, we didn't get, we being government, all we wanted, the industry didn't get all they wanted,” said City Councilman Garry Gernandt.
The ordinance dives into all the parking regulations, like the trucks cannot be within 50 feet of an existing brick and mortar restaurant. They cannot park on the corner, and no parking in the 45 degree spots.
A big negotiation was they can stay open until 2:30am.
“That is a big jump from what they were initially looking at, when the bars close at 2am, you have a half hour to feed people,” said FTA President, Kelly Keegan.
Keegan said this is a huge step is modernizing food trucks in Omaha.
“We are really happy with what we have,” said Keegan.
Councilman Gernandt also agrees that this is the right step after months of delaying.
“I am sensing there will be some sort of movement in the right direction,” he said.
City Council will see the ordinance next Tuesday for its first reading.
