MONROE, La. (AP) - The Monroe City Council has voted to introduce an ordinance that would allow for and regulate mobile food vendors in the city.
The ordinance would allow vehicles properly permitted with the city to set up shop throughout the city to sell food, but that ability comes with several restrictions.
A vendor must be at least 20 feet from intersections, traffic signals and stop signs and at least three feet away from handicap ramps. Vendors cannot set up tables, chairs or other fixtures, except for trash cans.
Vendors are not allowed to operate within 150 feet of a land-based restaurant without written permission.
The ordinance prohibits vendors from selling alcoholic beverages, which was allowed in a previous version of the ordinance.
The News-Star repots (https://tnsne.ws/1gnuHe6 ) the ordinance was introduced Tuesday Council Vice Chairman Ray Armstrong and it passed on a 4-1 vote.
“This is a great thing for the city, and it’s something that can create a lot of excitement,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong said food trucks could help create new businesses, allowing some owners to test the market before making large investments, while others can’t afford to open a land-based restaurant.
Though the ordinance cleared its first hurdle, Armstrong said more “homework” is needed to be done to convince some of the other council members to adopt the ordinance at the next meeting.
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Information from: The News-Star, https://www.thenewsstar.com
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