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Houston City Council blocking food trucks from operating downtown

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by da1, Sep 19, 2012.

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  1. da1

    da1 Member

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    http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Food-truck-fight-hits-speed-bump-3875607.php

    An effort to bring vibrant food truck competition to downtown Houston was met with a cool reception from some City Council members concerned about potential safety issues and competition with brick-and-mortar restaurants.

    On Tuesday, more than 50 mobile food truck owners and supporters showed up at a council committee hearing to push for changes to the city's mobile food unit ordinance, saying it would promote economic growth and improve vitality downtown.

    "The way the ordinance is right now, it inhibits our growth and our survival," said food truck vendor Joe Phillip, a representative of Mobile Food Unit Houston Collaborative. "It limits where and how we can sell. Other states and cities have vibrant food truck communities."

    The proposal would lift a ban on mobile food trucks with propane stoves or grills operating in downtown, eliminate the mandatory 60 feet of spacing between each truck, and enable truck vendors to provide seating.

    Several council members expressed concern about propane use in the downtown area and the impact mobile food trucks would have on existing restaurants.

    Parking, danger

    Councilman Andrew Burks Jr. opposed the changes, saying he said he has a problem with having multiple trucks lined up along downtown streets, a unsightly scene he has witnessed in other big cities.

    Downtown parking is limited, and the close proximity of several trucks could be unsafe, he said.

    "There is a danger here," Burks said. "I don't like this idea."

    Under the existing ordinance, four or more trucks using propane can park within 60 feet of each other but must have a firefighter on site.

    Under the proposed revisions, there is no spacing requirement, but food trucks would be limited to 40 pounds of propane in the downtown area.

    Councilman C.O. Bradford said he believes there will be an influx of food trucks in downtown if the proposal is adopted, and he is concerned about the city's ability to perform site inspections with just three city inspectors.

    A city health department employee said the vendors are required to let the city know where they are doing business.

    Mobile food trucks are allowed only on private property with written approval from the property owner.

    Food truck operators and supporters said the changes will bring more foot traffic downtown, enhancing business for truck vendors and restaurants.

    Ari Katz, owner of Katz Coffee, said he thinks the changes will add great value to downtown.

    Katz said he added a food truck at his Montrose restaurant and saw an increase in restaurant sales.

    Restaurants weigh in

    Members of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association, however, see the changes as a move toward deregulation of the food truck industry.

    "Very few people in our industry, especially those who are members in our association, see this as something that's going to really impact business downtown on a positive level," said association past president Michael Shine.

    "They see it, theoretically, as just splitting up a small pie. Members of the association don't want this happening."

    Shine said the association's biggest concern is allowing food truck vendors to add up to 3 tables and six chairs in front of their trucks.

    When they add seating, he said, they no longer are mobile, they are restaurants.

    'A work in progress'

    Food truck owner Joshua Martinez called it "irresponsible" of the city to ban propane trucks from downtown.

    Martinez also called council members' concern about propane and safety "far-fetched." Grease fires in restaurants can be dangerous, he noted.

    Houston Fire Department Chief Joe Leggio told council members that, as long as propane is contained, it is safe.

    He also said the department has a rigorous inspection program.

    Mayor Annise Parker has not seen the draft proposal, press secretary Jessica Michan said. However, a representative of the mayor's office has been working on the proposal with mobile food truck vendors, she said.

    "It's a work in progress now," Michan said. "She won't know if she supports until she sees the final proposal."
     
    #1 da1, Sep 19, 2012
  2. AMS

    AMS Member

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    This is why Houston Downtown sucks. Even Winnipeg Canada has a more lively Downtown.
     
    #2 AMS, Sep 19, 2012
  3. David Stern

    David Stern Member

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    I support any measure that helps the growth of the food truck industry.
     
    #3 David Stern, Sep 19, 2012
  4. moestavern19

    moestavern19 Member

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    I agree with the city council and do not support food trucks in the downtown area.

    The downtown area is a place of industry mixed with local establishments meant to delight the business crowd.

    Only poor illegals and other proles should get their food out of a motorized restaurant.

    What is this? Austin? Next thing you know these terrorist pinkos will want to have mandatory drum circles held before city council meetings.
     
    #4 moestavern19, Sep 19, 2012
  5. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    I agree.

    The reason downtown Houston sucks is because of the lack of food trucks.
     
    #5 ima_drummer2k, Sep 19, 2012
  6. da1

    da1 Member

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    You'd be surprised the number of people that would choose food trucks over the overpriced restaurants.
     
    #6 da1, Sep 19, 2012
  7. SwoLy-D

    SwoLy-D Member

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    Upon further investigation, one of the council members has a restaurant losing clientele to the Taco trucks... :grin:

    I bet that's what happened.
     
    #7 SwoLy-D, Sep 19, 2012
  8. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Member
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    The food trucks in downtown Portland were some of the best eats I've ever had. This safety thing is a load of bull. Somebody is getting a nice kickback to keep these things away.
     
    #8 DonnyMost, Sep 19, 2012
  9. Johndoe804

    Johndoe804 Member

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    The safety thing is a load of crap, and that argument from the city councilor who said that there wouldn't be enough site inspectors is ridiculous, as well. Bring on more inspectors if that's the issue. Government not being able to do their job shouldn't ever limit the capacity of people to do theirs. And the worry that these food trucks would just be taking a piece of the pie, as opposed to increasing the size of the pie is ridiculous, as well. Those trucks open up untapped markets.
     
    #9 Johndoe804, Sep 19, 2012
  10. David Stern

    David Stern Member

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    THIS X 1000000000000000000

    I’m tired of bad policy brought about by special interest groups:eek:
     
    #10 David Stern, Sep 19, 2012
  11. macalu

    macalu Member

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    Food trucks are probably the cleanest "restaurants" around. there are no dishes to wash, no huge floors to mop, and the cooking area is the size of most people's stove. i love me some roach coaches.
     
    #11 macalu, Sep 19, 2012
  12. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Member

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    I agree that the safety thing is a thin pretext. And that the number of inspectors is a nonissue -- they can charge food trucks a licensing fee to hire those inspectors with.

    The issue here is the restaurant association not wanting to lower the barrier to entry into the industry, and they're probably right that it'll hurt their current members. Restaurant margins are already pretty thin and most go out of business. A food truck is cheaper to launch than a restaurant, they have less overhead on their P&L, and can put downward pressure on prices and steal customers. I would think lower-end joints and lunch places (outside of fastfood restaurants) would get hurt the worst.

    I've seen a couple of anecdotal quotes from Katz Coffee and Anvil that their sales have increased because of a local food truck, but that's total bs -- those aren't restaurants, so a food truck is a complement, not a competitor.

    I would like to see a more liberal policy in the food truck business (I have some friends in it). Houston might benefit long-term from changing the food service landscape a bit. But, there will be some short-term pain. Some restaurants will go out of business if food trucks can operate more freely.
     
    #12 JuanValdez, Sep 19, 2012
  13. AMS

    AMS Member

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    and carts.
     
    #13 AMS, Sep 19, 2012
  14. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Member

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    Food trucks? Only poor college students eat at those. In a pinch I ate at one about a month ago and got sick. No thanks. And a big "hell no" if they're going to be blocking traffic taking up a lane downtown (not sure if that's an issue).

    poors please keep your nose-pierced food truck people quarantined in Austin

    ...and Houston laughs at your idea that these are a new trend. We've had these in Houston for 50 years -- they're called taco trucks

    TIA
     
    #14 bigtexxx, Sep 19, 2012
  15. da1

    da1 Member

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    There are ice cream carts everywhere in southwest houston. Go to gulfton area.
     
    #15 da1, Sep 19, 2012
  16. da1

    da1 Member

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    Thanks for sharing what your opinion is of poor people. How you haven't been banned after your constant posts seething with hatred and bigotry is a miracle.
     
    #16 da1, Sep 19, 2012
  17. JD88

    JD88 Member

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    I go to other cities on occasion and prefer food trucks for lunches and restaurants for dinner. Nothing like a slice off the corner in NY.
     
    #17 JD88, Sep 19, 2012
  18. Johndoe804

    Johndoe804 Member

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    At the benefit of consumers. If those businesses fail because somebody is providing a service that matches theirs at a cheaper price, we all benefit because the difference in cost between the failed restaurant and the sucessful food truck can be reinvested in more profitable and benficial ventures.
     
    #18 Johndoe804, Sep 19, 2012
  19. BigBird

    BigBird Member

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    Somebody obviously hasn't watched the great food truck race on the food network, or been to Austin. The prevention of food trucks from operating in downtown is a travesty for the stomachs of all those involved.
     
    #19 BigBird, Sep 19, 2012
  20. moestavern19

    moestavern19 Member

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    Please don't bite my bits texxxy, find some new material. I posted the same predictable drivel and you basically said the same thing word for word.

    Mix it up a little brah.

    You are getting as easy to predict as a Rice Football player getting arrested.

    TIA
     
    #20 moestavern19, Sep 19, 2012
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