Food truck craze faces roadblocks around Jacksonville

[tufsu1]

I'll be going to LA in a few weeks, one of the most vibrant food truck cultures save for Portland and Austin

you should visit Philly..especially the campus of Temple University....we had well over 100 trucks on a campus that is less than 100 acres!

[fieldafm]

Remember 2010-856 and the transient vendor ban?

As I was looking to purchase a rig from a local person that gave up was around the same time that 2010-856 came about.  Hence my desire to learn more about the subject and researching the issue in other localities... keeping in mind the wonderful experiences I had with the street food culture in Southern California.

That's really what started all of this.  I generally do things like this b/c someone ticked me off.  I have come to the realization that 'no' is a required response in this city, and frankly that's unacceptable.

you should visit Philly

I've visited Philly quite a few times for work.  One visit was three too many for me 

[Dog Walker]

We've been told by the city that we are in violation of our zoning by having a food truck serving food on our property.

Green Room Brewing out at the beach has been told they can not have food trucks at their business either.

Seems like both cities would want the option of food available to people that are enjoying local beer.

In our case it is because we are zoned IL.

What specific zoning regulation are they claiming you're in violation of?

That's just nuts!  Every factory, warehouse and construction site in the country is visited by food trucks.  You might as well add this to the list a variances you are having to get.

[Intuition Ale Works]

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2012-05-03/story/food-trucks-battle-bans-first-coast-area-beaches

[Anti redneck]

I believe the owners of these food trucks could sue Jacksonville and actually win. If I was a food truck owner, that's what I would do. The COJ is going against these owners' ways of making a living. Jacksonville is going against what this very country was founded upon!

[fieldafm]

Restricting competition, discouraging the opening of small businesses, reducing options for consumers (the food these trucks are putting out is fantastic and inexpensive) and stifling innovation and creativity of entrepreneurs isn't the way for the city to go about things.  It's not just food trucks that suffer.  Marketing firms, truck outfitters, sign businesses, food suppliers, local farmers(many source food from local farmers), legal firms, the dept of revenue, restaurant suppliers and others all lose out when this form of competition is unfairly restricted.

Last night, On the Fly was downtown for Art Walk and enjoyed a brisk business.  Several people came to Art Walk JUST for On the Fly that had never even been to Art Walk before and thought the city looked alive for the first time in their recent memory
(these are actual quotes, I talked to a majority of people waiting in line).  That is what we mean when we say that these trucks stimulate the kind of pedestrian activity that also helps periperhal businesses. 

The time is now Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach.  Will you answer the call?

[fieldafm]

I believe the owners of these food trucks could sue Jacksonville and actually win. If I was a food truck owner, that's what I would do. The COJ is going against these owners' ways of making a living. Jacksonville is going against what this very country was founded upon!

The trucks in St Pete enacted legal action against the city there.  They were only able to do so based on the pro bono work of a dedicated legal team.  It's not exactly inexpensive to bring legal action against an entity in this situation.

This shouldn't be settled in the courts.  Consumers(aka taxpayers) are loud and clear about what they want done here.  The legislative and executive branch of our local governments need to take the lead.

[Anti redneck]

I believe the owners of these food trucks could sue Jacksonville and actually win. If I was a food truck owner, that's what I would do. The COJ is going against these owners' ways of making a living. Jacksonville is going against what this very country was founded upon!

The trucks in St Pete enacted legal action against the city there.  They were only able to do so based on the pro bono work of a dedicated legal team.  It's not exactly inexpensive to bring legal action against an entity in this situation.

This shouldn't be settled in the courts.  Consumers(aka taxpayers) are loud and clear about what they want done here.  The legislative and executive branch of our local governments need to take the lead.

Well the consumers and the owners can and should take legal action; especially the above that you mentioned. I hope the people are reading this and I hope there is a lawyer reading this that supports the business of the food trucks. It's time to stand up to the COJ!!

[Garden guy]

One thing i dont understand is how does the council know that these food truck wont find a good clientel for their specific food and then the truck owners decide to pick a spot somewhere with an address. Arent these trucks also a good way to test the market with what they offer? Geez this conservative council is so fucked up.

[ben says]

I believe the owners of these food trucks could sue Jacksonville and actually win. If I was a food truck owner, that's what I would do. The COJ is going against these owners' ways of making a living. Jacksonville is going against what this very country was founded upon!

I think you're onto something here. Tortious interference with business, maybe?

[fieldafm]

I believe the owners of these food trucks could sue Jacksonville and actually win. If I was a food truck owner, that's what I would do. The COJ is going against these owners' ways of making a living. Jacksonville is going against what this very country was founded upon!

The trucks in St Pete enacted legal action against the city there.  They were only able to do so based on the pro bono work of a dedicated legal team.  It's not exactly inexpensive to bring legal action against an entity in this situation.

This shouldn't be settled in the courts.  Consumers(aka taxpayers) are loud and clear about what they want done here.  The legislative and executive branch of our local governments need to take the lead.

Well the consumers and the owners can and should take legal action; especially the above that you mentioned. I hope the people are reading this and I hope there is a lawyer reading this that supports the business of the food trucks. It's time to stand up to the COJ!!

Pony up the cash and do it yourself then.

In the meantime, letting your elected officials know of your well-researched and professional thoughts on the matter will go a long way... and much more effective than sueing the city. 

[Overstreet]

Regulate and tax them. Charge for trash, maintenance of traffic and parking. The bricks and mortar guys pay to maintain parking and dispose of trash.  They have to have certain traffic flows in their parking lots so as not disturbe the traffic flow.  The food trucks avoid all that.

Yes, you say they cater to pedestrians. But those pedestirans parked somewhere. They throw trash somewhere. They stand in line blocking the sidewalk, street, side of the road, etc. The food truck blocks a corner limiting traffic, whatever.

The "independ" attitudes of many of the food truck operators is often not appreciated.  I will not tollerate the majority of them on my job sites.

[fieldafm]

Could you be specific?  The lunch sites the food trucks we represent have all been extremely welcoming of food trucks and have overall great experiences to share.  Not one of them dump trash and grease on site and the employees have really embraced these trucks.  In the last three weeks alone, no less than 8 office parks have reached out to me wanting food trucks on their properties at lunch time.

Florida Theatre was alive last night with people, young and old people alike. 

I'm really curious to know about your experiences. 

But those pedestirans parked somewhere.

In a downtown environment, they would avoid parking somewhere b/c they would simply walk to a truck instead of driving somewhere else.  In an office park, workers avoid driving off campus by using the food truck at their job site instead. 

The food truck blocks a corner limiting traffic

I don't think anyone has advocated for blocking traffic.  That would be illegal and dangerous. 

They throw trash somewhere.

Customers throw trash into the trash bins provided for them at the truck(at least in my experience in every city I have visited and dined from a food truck in, our trucks here have been provided trash receptacles by a disposal company in town), or they typically walk back to their office and dispose of the trash there(just like they would if they brought lunch in from home). 

[Anti redneck]

I believe the owners of these food trucks could sue Jacksonville and actually win. If I was a food truck owner, that's what I would do. The COJ is going against these owners' ways of making a living. Jacksonville is going against what this very country was founded upon!

The trucks in St Pete enacted legal action against the city there.  They were only able to do so based on the pro bono work of a dedicated legal team.  It's not exactly inexpensive to bring legal action against an entity in this situation.

This shouldn't be settled in the courts.  Consumers(aka taxpayers) are loud and clear about what they want done here.  The legislative and executive branch of our local governments need to take the lead.

Well the consumers and the owners can and should take legal action; especially the above that you mentioned. I hope the people are reading this and I hope there is a lawyer reading this that supports the business of the food trucks. It's time to stand up to the COJ!!

Pony up the cash and do it yourself then.

In the meantime, letting your elected officials know of your well-researched and professional thoughts on the matter will go a long way... and much more effective than sueing the city.

No need to be sarcastic about it. Furthermore, putting in my two cents worth I'm sure would not work. They listen to nobody except those who agree with them

[Dog Walker]

The Everbank building certainly welcomes them.  There is a sign in their lobby listing what trucks will be there on what days!