The future of the food truck industry in Omaha is up for discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
A resolution is finally in sight after several months of debate regarding how and when the trucks can operate. The proposed ordinance would allow trucks to use metered parallel parking as long as the vehicles are parked at least fifty feet away from restaurants. Operating hours would be limited until 2:30 a.m.
"This is something new for Omaha. That industry hasn't been new around the country, but it's new to Omaha and we didn't have anything in place.," said Councilmember Garry Gernandt.
City officials say that reception to the ordinance has been mostly positive. The Omaha Food Truck Association says they support the new rules.
"I think that we're at a point where the food truck industry got a little bit of what they wanted. The city got a little bit. There's a compromise and now we're at a middle ground right now," said Gernandt.
"So, that really opens up the market for food trucks to be able to move around and bring this food to the people who want it," said Kelly Keegan, president of the Omaha Food Truck Association.
Earlier this Fall .the City Council rejected a plan that would include food trucks under the restaurant tax. The issue may be revisited in the future.
The Omaha Food Truck Association plans on hosting a mini food truck rally Tuesday outside City Hall on Farnam Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
