City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 7, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: KARL MORITZ, DIRECTOR, P&Z
ADRIANA CASTAÑEDA, DIRECTOR, T&ES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend Section 9-15-12 (Operational requirements for all food trucks) of Chapter 15 (Food Truck Vendors) of Title 9 (Licensing and Regulation).
ISSUE: Consideration of amendments to Code of Ordinances Sec. 9-15-12 (A) - Operational requirements for all food trucks; as requested by City Council at the April 2, 2024, Legislative Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the amendments to City Code Section 9-15-12 on first reading and set it for second reading, public hearing and final passage on Saturday, May 18, 2024.
BACKGROUND: On May 17, 2014, City Council adopted City Code Title 9, Chapter 15 otherwise known as the “City of Alexandria Food Truck Ordinance.” On December 12, 2015, and April 16, 2016, the City Council adopted amendments related to off-street and on-street vending, respectively.
On April 2, 2024, the City Council discussed a request by food truck vendors to amend and expand the times food truck vending may be permitted. The City Council directed staff to propose amendments which provide additional flexibility for vending hours.
DISCUSSION: Staff proposes amending Sec. 9-15-12 (A)(i) to expand the times of day which food truck vending may take place. Current regulations permit vending between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily. Staff proposes permitting vending between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. daily. As food truck vending often includes noise from diners and odor impacts from cooking similar to outdoor dining, staff recommends hours that would be equivalent to the city standard closing hours for outdoor dining.
Furthermore, the staff proposes amending Sec. 9-15-12 (A)(ii) to increase continuous vending time for any one food truck in any one location from four hours to six hours. The additional two hours will provide flexibility for food truck vendors in conjunction with expanded times of day which food trucks vending may be permitted.
The proposed changes will apply to the hours of operation on private property and permitted vending locations on public rights-of-way.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Cover
2. Proposed Ordinance
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Tony LaColla, AICP, Division Chief, Land Use Services, Department of Planning and Zoning
Cheran Ivery, City Attorney
Christina Zechman Brown, Deputy City Attorney