Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton City of Warren Planning Commission member Mike Suppa speaks during Wednesday’s meeting. The panel reviewed a proposed ordinance aimed at providing a specific policy for food truck operation in the city.

Food trucks “continue to be vehicles for entrepreneurial opportunity and economic growth,” according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

The City of Warren’s Planning Commission reviewed a draft ordinance Wednesday designed to provide a “clear and specific policy” for entrepreneurs looking to operate food trucks in the city.

Director of Codes and Planning Randy Rossey said the city currently has six licensed mobile food vendors but noted the current ordinance “really only deals with brick and mortar. We needed to do some updates. The city did not have a clear and specific policy.”

A draft ordinance details the licensing requirements and general rules of operation for “mobile food vendor” facilities.

Rossey said a “highlight of this new ordinance” is the city will accept a state license to operate, rather than requiring a city-specific license which is the case now.

“(It) was brought to our attention that some other municipalities do not always recognize the city’s food license, placing an undue hardship on vendors because in some instances (they are) required to have a city license and a state license,” he explained.

Prospective vendors will just have to provide the city a copy of a state license and most recent inspection.

Eric Hastings who, with his wife Natalie, operates the Bucket Brigade Pizza Co., said the ordinance “very specifically lays out where we can’t operate” but was “vague” on where operation was permitted.

The ordinance says food trucks can’t be “operated on any city-owned streets or property, within any city park, or upon the city’s rights-of-way without authorization from the City of Warren.”

“The intent is to be more free-flowing with (the) working relationship,” Police Chief Joe Sproveri.

Natalie Hastings raised concern about a provision that addressed noise concerns.

“For us, it’s all common-sense based,” Sproveri said, calling the provision a “tool in a tool box if someone is being absolutely obnoxious.”

Rossey acknowledged that generators are required for these businesses to operate and there was a sense that noise from normal operation would not run afoul of the regulation.

Rod Hoffman, who owns an ice cream truck, raised concern that the ordinance says “you’ve got to pick a spot and go there,” citing how that would impact his operations.

Administrative Assistant Kassie Damcott said the vendor permit can be drafted to “cover as many places as you wanted to go through the year.”

One area that drew substantial discussion was the placement of food tracks near brick and mortar establishments, especially in the downtown.

Mike Suppa, who was on the committee that drafted the regulations, said the city looked at that issue, noting that implementing a footage regulation from a brick and mortar business “became too much,” banning locations from Hickory Street to Wetmore Park.

Commission chair Elizabeth Raible added the committee “spent a significant amount of time” on that issue.

“(It) wasn’t working out with the way restaurants are laid out downtown,” she said. “We didn’t want to keep food trucks from coming downtown. When looking at a minimum amount of feet away from brick and mortar restaurants, (footage requirements are) creating zones where good trucks can’t even go.”

That then raised discussion about parking space use by mobile food facilities, especially along the north side of Pennsylvania Ave. near Second Ave., dubbed “restaurant row.”

City Manager Mike Holtz said addressing that is something that needs additional review.

The downtown has several areas where parking is restricted by time.

Holtz said the committee could also look at language that would exempt a mobile food facility from having to move during the day if they’re approved to set up in an area with two or three hour parking restrictions.

Raible read an email from Rob Roth, who operates Wicked Warren’s.

Roth acknowledged that “food trucks have their place” but not in competition with brick and mortar establishments.

He asked for a “level playing field,” noting that food trucks are “getting away with not having to pay so many things.

“Anything that would level the playing field.”

“(We) should be making it easier, not more difficult for food trucks to operate in Warren,” Planning Commission member Ron Peterson, appointed to the board by City Council on Monday, said.

He acknowledged the need to find a “balance” between food trucks and brick and mortar establishments but added that “we should definitely be encouraging food trucks.”

Rossey asked for another committee meeting to hammer out some of the issues raised on Wednesday.

The planners tabled action pending that committee meeting. Rossey said the ordinance will be back before the planners in October.