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By Alison Sandstrom

Appetite for new rules

Council divided on food truck regulations

Feb 11, 2020 | 8:34 AM

Prince Albert city council is pondering new regulations that would keep food trucks away from existing restaurants. While some councillors see the competition as healthy, others say the mobile kitchens have an unfair advantage because they don’t pay taxes like traditional restaurants do.

Mayor Greg Dionne first raised the idea of creating a mandatory food truck-free buffer zone around restaurants in November. At the time, council asked for a report on the issue, and at Monday night’s executive meeting that document was up for debate.

In the report, city adminstration recommended food trucks not be able to set up shop within 100 m of the property line of restaurants along Second Ave., within 10 m of restaurants in the downtown, or within 20 m of eateries in the rest of the city.

Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw currently have 20 m exclusion zones in place.

Exemptions would be made provided a food truck had written permission of restaurants in the buffer area, and for festivals and special events.

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Blue shading shows where food trucks would not be allowed under regulations recommended by city administration. (Council Agenda Package/City of P.A.)

Dionne rejected the proposed regulations on the basis they favoured food trucks over established eateries.

“Do we want five full-time restaurants that employ over 100 people and pay us over $100,000 in taxes,” he asked council. “Or do we want five food trucks that employ 10 people and give us $500 a year?”

Blue shading shows where food trucks would not be allowed if a 100 meter buffer zone were implemented

Coun. Blake Edwards echoed the mayor’s concerns and suggested perhaps there could be a designated square or parking lot for the vehicles.

“To have the ability to move around and find the hot spots is very concerning to me,” he told the meeting.

Coun. Evert Botha said he didn’t see why the buffer zone in the downtown should be smaller than other areas, and would like to see 100 m citywide.

Meanwhile Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp said more industry and competition could be a good thing, and having the trucks in the city’s core might have far reaching benefits.

“When we talk about revitalizing the downtown, we have many statistics that show us that when you have more people in a space, your crime rate drops, it becomes a healthier environment, and your business community can also benefit from that,” she told council.

Similarily, Coun. Dennis Nowoselsky said food trucks cater to different clienteles and cravings than restaurants do.

“You’re looking for a quick fix, a quick meal, you go to the [food truck]. You want to sit down for a nice classy meal you go to our restaurants,” he said.

Ultimately council remained split on what to do about regulations, but agreed further information would be useful. They voted to have another report, including input from restaurants, prepared in time for a March meeting.

They hope to have new regulations passed by May when food trucks come to the city for their business permits.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom