South Pasadena City Attorney Richard Adams called the city’s ban “obsolete.”

With the City Council’s unanimous vote to repeal South Pasadena’s ban on food trucks, the chamber of commerce will weigh in on an ordinance that works for everyone.

“It is important that City Council repealed that outdated [ban],” said Chamber President Scott Feldman.

“Now the chamber looks forward to helping them create [new vending regulations] that work for both brick and mortar eateries and the ones that have wheels and serve through windows,” he added.

Wednesday’s night repeal of the food truck ban follows a lawsuit filed in August by the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association. The suit alleged that the 1951 ban is in direct contradiction with state law passed in 1984.

“This section has become obsolete and right now we’ve been sued because we still have this on the books,” City Attorney Richard Adams is quoted in a Pasadena Star News story.

http://southpasadena.patch.com/articles/food-trucks-welcomed-in-south-pas-council-votes#photo-11614831

Customers outside the Hungry Nomad food truck. Credit Courtesy of Hungry Nomad

The city is in talks with the SoCal Mobile Food Vendors Association to create a food truck law that falls in line with state law. This means the ban will be lifted but regulations will be created. Thoughts?

Should food trucks be allowed to park in town?

California Vehicle Code says yes, and South Pas will soon be in compliance after a related lawsuit, according to officials.

South Pasadena City Council passed a motion in November 2011 stating food trucks will no longer be cited for selling food out of a parked vehicle, yet the ban was never officially lifted from its municipal code.

Why hasn’t it been changed? City Manager Sergio Gonzalez says: “There has [been] a tremendous drop in the number of food trucks [since November 2011]. But recent acts have brought it back to the front burner.”

The SoCal Mobile Food Vendor’s Association filed a lawsuit against South Pasadena in August noting that the city’s law is contradictory to state law.

“South Pas has a ban. They’ve known it’s been illegal since at least last year, yet they still have on their books,” said attorney Kevin Behrendt, representing the food truck coalition.

Behrendt’s firm has been in talks with the city and hopes that they can reach a comprehensive regulatory scheme to replace the ban. This may include any regulation related to public safetey—but not compensation or aesthestics—he says.

Gonzalez told Patch a working group comprised of South Pas Chamber of Commerce members, local business owners and city staff has already been created and are responsible for building reasonable guidelines and regulations suitable to both food trucks vendors and local restaurant owners.

The two parties coexisting is a “careful balance,” notes Gonzalez.

Chamber of Commerce President Scott Feldmann has long argued that food trucks should be allowed on a limited basis only for events and fundraisers.

The issue will be brought forth at the City Council meeting October 17 where city staff will recommend that the ban be rescinded.

http://southpasadena.patch.com/articles/how-should-the-city-of-south-pasadena-revise-its-food-truck-law

Credit Henk Friezer

Some see food trucks as an eye-sore; others view them as a opportunity for community and culture. One thing is for sure: The future of food trucks is uncertain in South Pasadena.

Police Chief Joseph Payne has diligently enforced City ordinance 19.49, which states “no person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of selling therefrom or therein any article, service or thing,” and says that until the ordinance specifically exempts the trucks from being cited in commercial areas, he will continue to hand out citations.

“I may not object to amending the ordinance as long as it does not create traffic problems elsewhere,” he said via e-mail July 20. “Considerable public input will be sought before any changes are considered.”

Yet even though Chief Payne said he doesn’t foresee the item being placed on City Council’s agenda anytime soon (in order for the item to be placed on the agenda, it would have to be requested by a Council Member and seconded by another), Mayor Mike Ten thinks food trucks are a problem in town and would be open to discussion.

“[I would consider voting in favor of changing the ordinance] only to clarify who the current law applies to, or locations where operation will be prohibited,” he said.

THE BACKSTORY

After an initial story was published to South Pas Patch July 6, reader comments reflected a divided opinion. Nonetheless, the ever-popular Dumpling Station has still been booming with business at Garfield Park’s Concert in the Park series throughout July.

The Dumpling Station has been cited on a number of occasions, and continues to be cited along with other trucks whenever complaints are received or violations are noticed, according to Chief Payne.

While they all do have business licenses, which are issued by South Pasadena’s Finance Department, food trucks remain cited because selling items or services from a parked vehicle is against local law.

“Parking on private property or parking on the street to satisfy a contractual agreement with a person or persons may be permitted,” Payne explained. “Examples include a food truck servicing a construction site by agreement or a private party in a park. Vending to casual passersby does not fit this exception.”

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

“Maybe on certain days or special occasions like Concerts in the Park, I think it’s a great time to have some variety and options as far as food goes” said Margot Mesias, who sampled the Dumpling Station truck along with her niece and nephew for the first time in July. “It’s really convenient, it’s good, and as long as people pick up their trash, it’s nice.”

Resident Edgar Moreno also enjoys the idea of the trucks, and sees it as an opportunity for culinary exposure.

“It’s kind of like a new kind of culture,” he said. “It brings a new kind of urban style of street food. And it’s cleaner, it’s not like the taco stands in the streets. It brings a mixture of nationalities and flavors.”

Zhenya Bear, who is new to the city, says that while the trucks don’t bother her personally, the city has the right to put any restraints on food trucks it desires.

“If the city doesn’t want it, then I think it should not be here,” she said.

To read what the owner of Dumpling Station has to say about the ordinance and South Pas, click here.

http://southpasadena.patch.com/articles/follow-up-city-addresses-food-truck-ordinance