COVINA, CA – Covina may soon allow food trucks after a review of the city’s restrictive ordinance.

Currently, the city allows trucks to stop for a maximum of 10 minutes in one location and prohibits stopping on public streets.

“There have been a few folks out in the community to that have been asking us,” said City Manager Darryl Parrish. “The current rules are pretty strict, essentially they’re not permitted unless its a special event.”

The city had food trucks at its annual Thunderfest & Musical Festival this year.

“From our perspective, we’re open to what works in the community,” Parrish said. “Some people would think its a good idea, because it might help with their business. Others might be opposed to it because they could see it as competition.”

The council will discuss the topic at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Covina’s staff reviewed ordinances from other cities around the San Gabriel Valley. Many allowed special event permits for food trucks, while some, like West Covina, only restricted sale times. Duarte, Baldwin Park and Azusa all limit trucks to 10 minutes.

South Pasadena established an ad-hoc committee of truck operators and brick and mortar owners to establish its ordinances, which allows trucks on private and public property. The regulations require bathrooms within 200 feet and bar the trucks from stopping at schools.

Covina’s review came after the owners of Alosta Brewing Company, 692 Arrow Grand Circle, asked to have trucks at their brewery.

“Food trucks have almost become an industry standard as far as a lot of other micro breweries are concerned,” said Alosta co-founder Jamie Caldwell.

Alosta is located in an industrial area and no restaurants exist in the vicinity. The brewery does not offer food, only the beers it manufactures on-site. The trucks have their own followings and many draw new customers to their locations, he said.

“The food trucks have been calling us trying to schedule times, but we aren’t able to do it,” said co-owner Byron Fisher.

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