Roaming-BuffaloBUFFALO, NY – Today in City Hall, a crowd is expected at 2 p.m. in Council chambers as lawmakers hear from the public on what kind of restrictions and fees should be imposed on food truck operators.

The Council has its own proposal that it is expected to vote on during a special session at 4 p.m. today, but lawmakers will hear from interested parties on what the city should do before the existing food truck ordinance expires April 1. The Council could propose changes to the city’s ordinance based on what they hear today.

Food truck owners and their supporters are expected to show up at 2 p.m. and advocate for lower permit fees (as they did two weeks ago), while a contingent of brick-and-mortar restaurant owners will propose tough new regulations on the trucks, from where they can operate to a new rule that would require a GPS unit in each truck so the city can track them.

Representing the restaurants is lawyer Barry N. Covert of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, who will discuss rules proposed by Covert and Main Street restaurateur Tucker Curtin, owner of The Steer and Lake Effect Diner. Curtin’s proposed ordinance imposes many more rules on the trucks:

  • Prohibiting the trucks from operating within 100 feet from any private property containing “commercial or residential dwellings” without permission from the owner or tenants.
  • Prohibited food trucks from parking within 25 feet of a fire hydrant, intersection or a driveway to a parking lot larger than 10 spaces.
  • A requirement that all food truck owners be licensed to operate a restaurant.
  • A peddler’s license be obtained for all truck employees.
  • Trucks abide by different rules inside of all of the city’s special districts, such as those on Hertel and Elmwood.

The Legislation Committee will hear from the public at 2 p.m., and at 4 p.m., a special session will be held for the full Council to vote on an ordinance amendment prepared by North Council Member Joseph Golombek.