re: Metro Council Meeting at 3:00 PM Wednesday on Food Trucks (UPDATED)

quote:

---

Really?

---

Yes, really. Just like when I was in Opelousas, I was embarrassed of most of the elected officials. And if I knew enough about the ones where I currently live, it probably wouldn't take long for me to have the same feeling here.

Can you address the other part of my post please?

The latest from the meeting yesterday:

he F&E committee sent the ordinance proposed by Councilman Smokie Bourgeois onto the full Metro Council, to be heard next Wednesday at 4pm.

Looking for some immediate reactions from food truck owners? Take a look...

cc: Taco de Paco, CURBSIDE, The Cuban Connection, Ignatius Reilly's Gourmet Street Food, Three Bones Catering Company, Ninja Snowballs, Latte e Miele Gelato, and many, many more






WVLA Tighter regulations on Food Trucks

quote:

---

Apr 4, 2012 10:11 p.m.

Wednesday is food truck round-up in Baton Rouge. Trucks meet at a given location, serving up their chef's delight. But across town, the East Baton Rouge Metro Council Finance and Executive Committee was going over a new ordinance, that if passed, would force truck operators to have written permission from property owners before parking their truck at a location.

"What I'm trying to do is protect the business owners," said Councilman Rodney Bourgeois, who proposed the ordinance.

Bourgeois is the owner of a traditional brick and mortar restaurant. Food trucks could be seen as new competition to his traditional restaurant model. But Bourgeois said the ordinance is a form of liability insurance to protect businesses in the event of an after hours accident on their property involving a food truck. It also regulates parking, forcing trucks to park with serving windows facing away from oncoming traffic.

"If something happens, spill hot coffee in your lap, whatever it may be," Bourgeois said, "who is the lawyer going to sue?"

Truck owners object to this proposed ordinance, calling it redundant, since many trucks already do this voluntarily.

"Many trucks don't operate this way," said Chris Meyers, owner of Three Bones Catering Company. "It's against good business practices."

Truck operators said they already get permission from property owners to set up, as was the case with Harb's Oasis nursery Wednesday.

"Every truck gets permission to park where they are," said Nick Hufft, owner/chef of Curbside food truck.

The full council will now consider the proposal brought by Councilman Bourgeois.

---

107.3 Radio interview with Patrick Fellows, owner of Fresh (AUDIO)

quote:

---

Are the Food trucks a traffic nuisance? Councilman Smokie Bourgeois wants the Metro Council to take a look at further regulation of their business with a proposal tonight. Item 13 on this afternoon’s Metro Council Finance and Executive Committee’s agenda reads, “to regulate parking by food trucks to address safety and traffic issues caused by mobile food vending services.”



Matt and Brian spoke with Patrick Fellows, owner of FRESH Salads and Wraps about his truck’s business practices and whether or not these proposed regulations were needed. His answer, in a word, was no. “To be honest, it’s a lot of redundant traffic laws” says fellows.



Fellows says we’ve got a good group of guys investing their time and money into the food trucks in Baton Rouge, and that not following the existing traffic laws would be bad for business. He also says most of this stuff is common sense. “Of course you’re not going to have your truck serving on the street side. You don’t need a law to tell me that.”



It has been noted that the Councilman making the proposal, Smokie Bourgeois, is a local restaurateur. When asked if he sees himself as a threat to Bourgeois business, Fellows says, “I don’t see why. Just because someone goes to my restaurant or truck one day, doesn’t mean they won’t be at his the next.”

---

BR Business Report

fricking bullshite, pricks need to do something to actually help the city instead of wasting time and energy on stuff like this.

These food trucks are extremely popular, obviously the cities inhabitants are not afraid to eat at them.

Smokey needs to quit being but hurt, im sure georges business isnt slacking, the place is an institution.