Mobile food vendors like this one may have to trade further afield in P.A. (Submitted/When Pigs Fry)

By Alison Sandstrom

food friction

Restaurants and food trucks discuss how to split the P.A.pie.

Feb 15, 2020 | 10:00 AM

As Prince Albert city council ponders tougher regulations that would create food truck exclusion zones around restaurants, local restaurateurs are cautiously in favour of new rules. However, at least one food truck operator feels like they’re not being listened to by the city.

Echoing points made during the most recent council meeting, Danielle Revale, owner of the Bison Cafe on Central Ave., said restaurants pay higher taxes and employ more people than the mobile kitchens.

“We contribute long-term to the community,” she told paNOW. “While out of town food trucks, for example, will wheel in for a day and make money and will take their profit with them. So where is the economic and social benefit for the city?”

She would like to see the city designate an area, away from the downtown where food trucks could set up.

“I don’t want to be cruel, because food trucks are also locally owned,” she said. “But food trucks could have their own spot to park so that it won’t affect the other businesses.”

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Tim Kopeck, co-owner of another downtown establishment, Funky Fresh Cafe and Bistro, also liked the area of a separate area for food trucks. He said his business wasn’t affected by the vehicles operating nearby in the past. Still, he wanted to see regulations in place for the future, as the meals on wheels continue to grow in popularity.

“If it really came down to it, if we got more food trucks than what we’re getting, they will ruin businesses downtown,” he said.

Both owners figured another option could be to allow the trucks to operate in the downtown for only a few days per week. ,

Meanwhile, Clarence Natomagan, owner of food truck When Pigs Fry, told paNOW operators like him might not pay property taxes, but they contribute to the city through parking fees and business licenses.

He explained parking his truck and two support vehicles for four hours downtown costs him $32 per day.

Ultimately, Natomagan said the city needs to understand food truck operators are like any other entrepreneurs.

“At the end of the day if my food truck becomes popular enough, my next step is (…) going to be an establishment in Prince Albert and I’m going to employ more people than I employ now,” he said. “But you can’t just cut us off from operating in the city and expect us to make it.”

He’s also concerned he heard about potential changes through the media and had not been kept abreast by the city.

“Why would the city do this under a shroud and keep us out of the loop when they’re the ones impacting our livelihood?”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom