>> [BACKGROUND] OKAY, FINE. GREAT. WE'LL CALL
[00:00:04]
THIS WORKSHOP MEETING OF PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER AT 2:30.[1. Call Meeting to Order]
TODAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 22ND, AND ALL COMMISSIONERS ARE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE ATTENDANCE, PLEASE.>> [OVERLAPPING] JACK'S NOT HERE.
>> JACK'S NOT HERE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I ALREADY PROCLAIMED THAT YOU WERE HERE.
>> DO WE NEED TO TAKE ATTENDANCE OR DO WE HAVE A SIGN-IN SHEET,
[2. Attendance]
PATRICK, FOR THE WORKSHOP?>> LET HIM TAKE ATTENDANCE. THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
>> COMMISSIONER ANTONELLI? [NOISE]
COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? I SEE NONE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR ONE DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM,
[4. Discussion and Action Items]
WHICH IS A REVIEW OF THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S CONCESSION REGULATIONS.FOR THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, DANIEL DID A PRESENTATION FOR US, SEPTEMBER OF '20 BEFORE COMMISSIONERS EDWARDS, PENA, AND WALLA CAME ON BOARD.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK THROUGH THAT AND THEN COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED AT DIFFERENT TIMES WANTING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO REVAMP THE CONCESSIONS REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES, AND SEE HOW WE CAN, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY MAKE THIS MORE FRIENDLY, BUT JUST DO A BETTER JOB FOR OUR CITY.
>> IF I COULD JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD, BUTCH STROUD IS HERE IN ATTENDANCE, HE IS THE CITY MARSHAL AND IS TASKED WITH ENFORCEMENT OF CONCESSIONS.
>> OKAY. GREAT. DANIEL, MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE.
SIT DOWN, STAND UP, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I THINK I'LL STAND.
I HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY.
[LAUGHTER] LET'S JUST GO AND GET STARTED.
SOME FOLKS WILL REMEMBER THIS, AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE SOME NEW FOLKS AS WELL.
[NOISE] A LOT OF THIS HAPPENED BEFORE I CAME ON IN THE CITY IN 2014, 2015.
SO SOME OTHER FOLKS, CATHERINE, MIGHT REMEMBER SOME DETAILS.
I THINK COMMISSIONER ANTONELLI WAS ACTUALLY ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WHO DID THIS INITIAL REVIEW, SO HE MAY REMEMBER SOME THINGS.
BUT BASICALLY, THIS STARTS [NOISE] I BELIEVE, 2014.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS AT THAT TIME THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTED TO DO A FOOD TRUCK AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE PROCESS WAS.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A PROCESS.
THAT'S WHAT LED TO THE FIRST AD HOC COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS 02/2015 TO 04/2015.
I THINK THEY FINALLY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR I THINK COUNCIL TOOK ACTION ON IT IN JULY OF 2015, I THINK IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
BUT IT BASICALLY CAME FROM THERE WASN'T AT THAT TIME AND COHESIVE WAY TO FACILITATE CONCESSIONS, FOOD TRUCKS, AND OBVIOUSLY, INTEREST WAS STARTING TO GROW AT THAT TIME.
THE AD HOC WAS CALLED DUE TO THE FRAGMENTS OR A LACK OF REAL REGULATIONS, LOOPHOLES, AND A DESIRE TO ALIGN PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULATIONS MORE WITH CITY ORDINANCES.
THE ORIGINAL AD HOC HAD EMPHASIS MORE ON SEAWALL AND STRAND-MECHANIC AND BROADWAY BEING THE PLACES WHERE THE FOOD TRUCKS TEND TO CONGREGATE THE MOST.
OF COURSE, THAT WAS SYSTEM OF SIX MEMBERS PLUS EX-OFFICIO, WHICH I BELIEVE IT WAS [BACKGROUND] [INAUDIBLE] YEAH, SHE WAS THE EX-OFFICIO FOR THAT, AND THE GOAL WAS TO BASICALLY GO FROM SOMETHING THAT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE OR SOMETHING NICE AND NEAT.
THOSE AREN'T FROM GALVESTON, THOSE ARE JUST FROM THE ORIGINAL AD HOC THAT I GRABBED, BUT THAT WAS REALLY THE BACKGROUND OF THIS WHOLE EFFORT, IN A NUTSHELL, TO MORE RECENTLY FORMER COUNCILPERSON HARDCASTLE AND SOME OF OUR CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCILMAN JOHN PAUL LISTOWSKI HERE, STILL HAVE AN INTEREST IN LOOKING AT THESE REGULATIONS.
IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT THESE REGULATIONS JUST TO SEE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T, AND WHAT CAN BE TIMED UP ON.
WITH THE WHOLE COVID RESTRICTIONS ON BARS AND THE ALLOWANCE THAT WAS GIVEN FOR FOOD SERVICE, INTEREST IN FOOD TRUCKS IN 2020 AND EARLY PART OF 2021 JUST EXPLODED.
SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT THIS AGAIN.
[00:05:03]
YEAH, IT'S JULY 27TH, 2015.IT'S OUR 3RD ORDINANCE AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT INCLUDES OF COURSE, SOME KEY DEFINITIONS, ESTABLISHES YOUR TYPICAL PERMIT IS REQUIRED, THE DURATION OF THE PERMIT, THE FEES ASSOCIATED, AND THAT'S GENERALLY 500 PER CONCESSION PER SIDE.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT MORE LATER IN A LITTLE BIT IN AND $1,000 FOR CONCESSION PARTS, WHICH IS BASICALLY IF AT LEAST TWO INDIVIDUAL FOOD TRUCKS ARE ON THE SAME PARCEL.
ALL PERMITS EXPIRE DECEMBER 31ST OF EACH YEAR.
THERE'S SOME LOCATION RESTRICTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S REALLY GET INTO THIS FIVE ZONING DISTRICTS AND MOST OF THE NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 500 FOOT FROM SCHOOLS DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND AN HOUR BEFORE OR AFTER, AT LEAST 75 FOOT FROM THE FRONT DOOR OF SIMILAR RESTAURANTS WITH SIMILAR MENU ITEMS, AND AT LEAST 100 FOOT FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR TYPICAL HEALTH DISTRICT PERMIT THAT'S REQUIRED.
LEASE AGREEMENTS, PRIVATE PROPERTY, OF COURSE, COMMISSARY AGREEMENT, KERNEL BACKGROUND CHECK, INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS PER OUR RISK MANAGEMENT, STATE SALES TAX LICENSE.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
THERE'S A LITTLE CAVEAT TO THAT.
SITE PLAN, PHOTOS, MAXIMUM SEATING, OUTDOOR DISPLAYS AND SIGNS, THAT'S ALL COVERED IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCES.
JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE RUNDOWN 2017, WE HAD 20, 2018 WE HAD 60, 2019; 22.
WE ENDED UP HAVING 22 ALTOGETHER IN 2020 AND WE HAVE 21 TO DATE, THIS YEAR, TO GIVE THAT IN UPDATE.
>> FOR THIS YEAR, SO THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF AN UPTICK.
>> OF COURSE, WE HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE REGULARS.
THEY PULL THEIR PERMIT EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A FEW THAT COME AND GO.
HERE'S JUST A PHOTO OF A FEW OF OUR FOOD TRUCKS.
THE 1ST ONE UP THERE IS ACTUALLY ON OVER BY THE MINI GOLF ALONG THE UPPER LEFT.
OF COURSE ON THE UPPER RIGHT IS ON 61ST STREET AND THEN THE 3RD ONE IS ON BROADWAY.
THERE ARE PRETTY INDICATIVE OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE RIGHT IN THE MOMENT.
[NOISE] THE MAP IS SOMEWHAT OUTDATED AS FAR AS SOME FOLKS HAVE COME AND GONE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S FAIRLY ACCURATE BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FOOD TRUCKS, THEY TEND TO BE ANNUAL [INAUDIBLE] AND COME BACK AND DO RENEWALS EVERY YEAR.
THEY DON'T CHANGE JUST A WHOLE LOT.
A NEW MAP TODAY WOULD NOT LOOK VERY MUCH DIFFERENT AT ALL.
WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE DIRECTIVE FROM COUNCIL TO START LOOKING AT THIS IN 2020, ONE THING WE DIDN'T DO IS LOOK AT 11 OTHER TEXAS CITIES.
THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF JUST A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR AND WHAT THEY'RE NOT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL REQUIRES CERTAIN THINGS LIKE TRASH CANS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMITS.
A FEW OF THESE CITIES HAVE THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
BUT EITHER WAY, SOME KIND OF A FOOD SAFETY PERMIT WAS REQUIRED EVERY TIME, OF COURSE.
STATE SALES TAX LICENSES, OF COURSE, AND RESTRICTIONS ON SIGNAGE AND ADVERTISING.
EIGHT OF THEM ACTUALLY REQUIRE THEIR CONCESSIONS TO BE MOBILE, WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT GALVESTON DOES.
ONE ACTUALLY GIVES THEM THE OPTION THAT DO EITHER OR.
NINE REQUIRE CITY PERMITS IN ADDITION TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMITS, SEVEN HAVE SOME PROHIBITIONS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING.
TWO OF THE CITIES STUDIED HAD NO ZONING.
SIX, ALLOW PUSH COURSE SPECIFICALLY.
FIVE REQUIRE THAT FOOD TRUCKS OPERATE ON PAVED SERVICES, FOUR REQUIRE RESTROOM ACCESS, ONE BUFFERS FROM BRICK AND MORTAR.
>> WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY BRICK AND MORTAR?
>> FOR EXAMPLE, THE SIMILAR MENU ITEM THING.
SOMEONE WANTS TO DO POPCORN SHRIMP OR SOMETHING, THEY WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO SET UP TOO CLOSE TO A SEAFOOD RESTAURANT.
>> PUT THEM OUT IN FRONT OF JEFF'S PLACE.
>> ONE, LIMITS IT TO ONE FOOD TRUCK PER PROPERTY, DOESN'T HAVE ANY ALLOWANCE FOR A FOOD TRUCK PARK.
ONE IS ACTUALLY FACING A LAWSUIT OVER OVERLY CONSTRICTIVE CONCESSION REGULATIONS AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND.
THE FEES VARY GREATLY FROM $100 WHICH IS VICTORIA, THAT'S THE CHEAPEST ONE, AND IT GOES OVER $1,000 IN AUSTIN AND HOUSTON.
I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILMAN COLLINS WHO BROUGHT UP SAN MARCOS AS A PLACE THAT HE FELT WAS WORTH TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT.
[NOISE] THAT'S HAVING SOME PRETTY GOOD FOOD TRUCK REGULATIONS.
[NOISE] THROUGH THIS, HERE'S A LITTLE BIT
[00:10:03]
OF JUST TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO COMPARE TO SPECIFICALLY.THERE'S A RUNDOWN OF NEW REGULATIONS.
THEY HAVE A LIST OF EXTENSIVE PRECISE DEFINITIONS.
THEY DO GIVE SOME SPECIFIC EXEMPTIONS TO SAY PERMITS, FOR EXAMPLE.
IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, HAVE FOOD TRUCKS COME IN OR A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT, LIKE A CHURCH WERE DOING SOMETHING, THEY'RE EXEMPTED [BACKGROUND] FOR THOSE THINGS.
THEY ALSO ALLOW BASICALLY A SEASONAL PERMIT FOR 180 DAYS AND TEMPORARY PERMITS WHICH GALVESTON DOES NOT DO EITHER OF THOSE.
IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED.
DO WE WANT TO DO THAT? IF SO, HOW? ETC. INTERESTING THING ABOUT ST. MARK IS THEY TREAT THIS AS A LAND USE.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH OUR TABLE 2.2 AT ONE OF OUR LAND AND BUILD REGULATIONS, FOOD TRUCKS ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED LAND USE.
THAT'S ONE INTERESTING DIFFERENCE, BUT EITHER WAY, IT GETS TO THE SAME POINT.
THEY ONLY ALLOW FOOD ITEMS, SOME PLACES ALLOW OTHER CONCESSIONS FROM MERCHANDISE NOT NECESSARILY FOOD.
SAN MARCOS ONLY ALLOWS FOOD ITEMS. THEY ALLOW THEIR FOLKS TO BE STATIONARY OR MOVE, BUT EITHER WAY, THEY REQUIRE A SCHEDULE SO THE PERMIT DEPARTMENT KNOWS WHERE THESE FOOD TRUCKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT ANY GIVEN DAY AND TIME.
THEY MAY BE ALLOWED ON UNDEVELOPED LOTS, DEPENDING ON THE ZONING.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY CAN CHOOSE THE LAND USE.
THEY HAVE A CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IT GOES TO THEIR CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THEY TREAT THE PUSH CARTS LIKE GALVESTON DOES, ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY HAD A PUSHCART AND THAT IS AS LONG AS THEY OPERATE LIKE A FOOD TRUCK, WE WOULD PERMIT THEM.
OF COURSE, THEY HAVE VERY CONCISE CONDITIONS AND PROCESS FOR REVOCATION [INAUDIBLE] MUCH LIKE GALVESTON.
THEY ACTUALLY REQUIRE TRASH RECEPTACLES, WHICH WE DO IN RESTROOM ACCESS, WHICH WE DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE AND PROVIDE VERY LIMITED SEATING, WHICH THEY ALLOW FOUR SEATING AREAS PER TRUCK.
>> YOU SAID THEY DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL BUFFERS.
DOES THAT MEAN YOU CAN PUT ONE IN FRONT OF A RESTAURANT?
>> WELL, I DON'T RECALL OFF HAND THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL.
WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK WITH YOU.
BUT THE TREAT IT AS A LAND USE THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD HAVE A FOOD TRUCK HERE IN GALVESTON WITHIN A 100 FOOT OF A RESERVATION LIKE R1 ZONING DISTRICT.
BUT IN SAN MARCOS, IF YOU HAD A ZONING DISTRICT BREAK LIKE THAT, THAT'S PERMITTED AS A LAND USE.
IT COULD BE REPLICATED TO THAT BUFFER.
THEY TREAT IT LIKE A LAND USE AS OPPOSED TO WELL, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE TERM WOULD BE FOR NOT A LAND USE BUT COVERED BY ORDINATES, BUT THEY DO IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
IT MORE OR LESS COMES DOWN TO THE SAME REGULATORY FRAMEWORK IT ACCOMPLISHES JUST THE SAME GOALS EITHER WAY.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS THAT STAFF HAS AND OTHER COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST THINGS TO EXAMINE, LOOK AT, AND DISCUSS.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS RAISED IN THE PAST WAS, WHY ARE THESE FOOD TRUCKS SCATTERED EVERYWHERE? WE WERE JUMPING DOWN [INAUDIBLE] , THEY ARE UP AND DOWN SEAWALL, ALSO [INAUDIBLE].
THERE'S A FEW CLUSTERS IN CENTRAL BUSINESS LIKE STRAND MECHANIC.
BUT THAT IS MOSTLY DUE TO THE LACK OF GOOD SPACES FOR FOOD TRUCKS MORE THAN ANYTHING I THINK.
BUT THEY TEND TO BE SPREAD OUT.
THE QUESTION WAS WHY? ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED AFTER THAT WAS, WE CHARGE $500 PER TRUNK AND THEN IF WE'RE DOING CONCESSION PARK, IT'S ANOTHER $1,000.
WELL, MOST LIKELY THE LANDOWNER, WHOEVER THEY ARE LEASING FROM IS GOING TO CHARGE THEM THAT $1,000.
THEY COULD VERY WELL BE BEING DOUBLE CHARGED BASICALLY TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK BESIDE A NEIGHBOR, AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S DISCOURAGING THEM? WELL, PERHAPS IT'S PROBABLY WORTH DISCUSSING.
ONCE AGAIN, DOES THAT DISCOURAGE THEM OR IS THAT NOT A BIG DEAL?
>> CAN YOU STOP FOR JUST A SECOND [OVERLAPPING] DANIEL AND GO BACK TO THE 1,000 VERSUS THE 500?
>> WHEN I STARTED READING THE ORDINATES AND IT'S ON 11.
I'M READING THIS, THAT THE CONCESSION PARK MANAGER HAS TO PAY THE $1,000.
IF I HAVE A FOOD TRUCK, DON'T I JUST HAVE TO PAY MY $500.
[00:15:01]
BUT THEN IF MY CONCESSION PARK MANAGER HAS PAID THE $1,000, THEN MAYBE HE'S GOING TO WANT ME TO PAY A $100 TO HELP HIM PAYBACK HIS 1,000?>> NO. THE WAY IT WAS SET UP TO MY RECOLLECTION IS TO GET THE PERMANENT TO THE FOOD MANAGER, PROPERTY MANAGER, IT'S $1,000 FOR THAT PERMIT AND THAT'S AN ANNUAL THING FOR YOUR PROPERTY.
THEN YOU CAN HAVE UP TO SO MANY UNITS ON YOUR PROPERTY AS LONG AS THE SPACING IS CORRECT AND YADA, YADA, YADA, AND THOSE PEOPLE, WHOEVER HAS THE FOOD TRUCK STILL HAS THAT $500 FEE WITH THE CITY, THAT'S NOT BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE CITY.
WHEREVER THAT FOOD TRUCK IS, THEY'RE PAYING $500.
THE PROPERTY MANAGER DOESN'T PAY ANYTHING.
HE PAYS $1,000 A YEAR FOR THE PROPERTY, AND NOW HE'S GOING TO CHARGE A RENT TO THOSE PEOPLE.
>> RIGHT. IF I HAVE A FOOD TRUCK I'M NOT PAYING $500 TO GO AROUND THE CITY, PLUS ANOTHER 1,000 TO SIT IN A FOOD TRUCK PARK UNLESS I'M THE FOOD TRUCK PARK MANAGER?
>> BUT YOU WOULD PAY A FEE TO THE FOOD PARK MANAGER.
>> THE FOOD PARK MANAGER WOULD NEGOTIATE WHATEVER DEAL THEY WANTED.
THEY COULD EITHER SAY YOU PAY A MONTHLY RENT OR PERCENTAGE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WAS READING UP WITH THAT FIRST ONE UNTIL I GOT INTO THE ORDINATES THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME AS A FOOD TRUCK OWNER A $1,000 PLUS 1,500.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S GOING TO COST YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR [OVERLAPPING] YOUR LICENSE IN CASE YOU ARE PAYING RENT.
DANIEL, ISN'T THERE ALSO A PROVISION WHERE, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OF THESE FOOD TRUCKS WHERE THEY HAVE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY A FOOD TRUCK PARK LICENSEE.
I JUST TAKE AS AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT?
>> NO. IF YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH A PROPERTY OWNER, THAT'S BETWEEN YOU AND THE PROPERTY OWNER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING] AS LONG AS HE ONLY HAS ONE TRUCK THERE, RIGHT?
>> I'M TRYING TO WRAP AROUND THIS.
I THINK YOU ACTUALLY DO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU WANTED TO PARK IT IN YOUR PARKING LOT OVER HERE, YOU HAVE TO PAY $500 FOR YOUR PERMIT.
AS OWNER OF THAT LOT WOULD YOU HAVE TO PAY A $1,000?
>> AS LONG AS HE HAS ONE TRUCK.
>> YEAH. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ONE. OKAY.
>> WHAT'S THE THRESHOLD FOR THE PARK?
>> [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] OKAY DANIEL I'M SORRY.
>> I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME REGULATION ON HOW CLOSELY YOU CAN BE SPACED.
>> THAT'S A 1,000 SQUARE FEET.
>> IT'S ONE PER A 1,000 SQUARE FOOT.
>> WE LOOKED AT OPENING ONE AT BEACH CENTRAL NEXT TO GALVESTON AND THE HOTEL [LAUGHTER].
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL VENUE, BUT THEN IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT BECAUSE MITCHELL PROPERTIES, THERE ARE SOME WEIRD STUFF, BUT THAT'S AN IDEAL LOCATION [OVERLAPPING] FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> WELL, THEY'VE HAD FOOD TRUCKS OUT THERE.
WELL, FOR THE [OVERLAPPING] WHATEVER THAT WAS.
>> FOR EVENTS RIGHT? IT'S EVENT DRIVEN.
>> BUT EVENTS ARE A WHOLE DIFFERENT CATEGORY.
>> BUT THAT'S A PUBLIC PARK, BAY PARK IS PUBLIC, ISN'T IT? OR IS THAT OWNED BY MITCHELL?
>> OKAY. I GOT US OFF TRACK, DANIEL BACK TO YOU.
>> DANIEL, HELP LOUIS OUT, HE HAS A QUESTION.
>> SORRY, JOHN PAUL. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT I PERSONALLY HAD WITH THE ORDINATES.
WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO IS CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THESE FOOD TRUCKS.
I MEAN, IN MY OPINION, FOOD TRUCKS WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.
IF YOU BASICALLY MET THE REQUIREMENT, YOU CAN PUT THAT THING ANYWHERE.
THIS RULE ALONE IN MY OPINION DISCOURAGED PEOPLE FROM CONSOLIDATING THE FOOD TRUCKS AND HAVING A FOOD PARK.
THAT $1,000 FEE IS GOING TO GET PASSED ALONG TO THE FOOD TRUCK OWNER IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IT IS GOING TO COST THEM MORE TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK IN A FOOD PARK THAN IT IS JUST TO GO HASH OUT A DEAL WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER SOME PLACE AND PUT THEIR TRUCK AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
THIS PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE PROBLEM OF HAVING FOOD PARK TRUCKS ON THE ISLAND BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A DISADVANTAGE TO A FOOD TRUCK PARK.
[00:20:05]
THIS IS ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MODIFIED IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.>> OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AND SINCE THE MARSHALL STROUD IS HERE TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HIM AFTER DANIEL GETS FINISHED, ABOUT REGULATING A FOOD TRUCK PARK VERSUS JUST A SINGLE STANDING FOOD TRUCK.
WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE TO HAVING THEM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND JUST TALK ABOUT THAT WITH HIM SOME TOO, AND SEE THIS $1,000 CONCESSION PARK FEE, DOES IT HELP OFFSET MORE MONITORING THAT THEY'RE HAVING TODAY? BUT WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN A FEW MINUTES AFTER DANIEL FINISHES.
WAS THAT EVERYTHING, COUNCIL MEMBER? [NOISE] OKAY, SO YOU'RE BACK UP.
NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT'S BECOME SOMETHING TO LOOK AT, WE'LL GO ON TO THE SEATING.
WE CURRENTLY ALLOW EIGHT SEATS PER CONCESSION.
IS THAT TOO MUCH? IS THAT NOT ENOUGH? [INAUDIBLE] IT ALTOGETHER? IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SAN MARCOS' LEAD [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE, THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT IN MY PERSONAL OPINION BEING THE PERSON WHO LOOKS AT THINGS A LOT, IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, I SHOULD SAY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT VAGUE.
IT WAS AND PERHAPS COMMISSIONER ANTONELLI MIGHT BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS AS WELL.
WERE CONCESSIONS MEANT TO BE FOOD ITEMS ONLY OR WAS IT INTENDED TO ALSO INCLUDE MERCHANDISE? WE OCCASIONALLY HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO'VE COME THROUGH WITH PRETTY GOOD IDEAS, LIKE A FELLOW WHO WANTED TO DO A MOBILE SKATE SHOP OVER BY [OVERLAPPING].
>> ANOTHER FELLOW WHO WANTED TO DO BASICALLY A TRAILER FULL OF LOCKERS WORTH OF SEAWALL THAT PEOPLE COULD RENT TO PUT THEIR BELONGINGS THERE WHEN THEY GET OVER AT THE BEACH.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE SOME GOOD IDEAS.
BUT WAS THAT THE ACTUAL INTENTION? WE'RE NOT SURE.
>> WHAT DO THOSE GUYS DO? LET'S SAY YOU WANT TO DO NOVELTY ITEMS, YOU FALL UNDER THIS CATEGORY?
>> WE HAVE TREATED IT THAT WAY, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE THAT ARE MERCHANDISE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S TRUE. DEFINITELY RIGHT ABOUT THE PEDDLER [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE PEDDLERS ACTUALLY DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONCESSIONS FOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY HAVE A PEDDLER THING FOR MARDI GRAS.
>> A PEDDLER MEANS A PERSON WHO GOES OUT FROM PLACE TO PLACE, BUT THAT COULD BE IN A TRAILER TOO.
>> WHAT IF YOU HAVE A PUSHCART? THAT DOESN'T COUNT AS A PEDDLER?
>> NOT IF YOU'RE DOING FOOD, BUT LIKE THERE AT MARDI GRAS, YOU SAY ALL THE LITTLE PEDDLERS [OVERLAPPING].
>> TO BE THE PUSH CART FOR THE BEES [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE FESTIVALS AREN'T COVERED BY THIS, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT CAVEAT THAT WOULD BE THE FESTIVALS IN THE FESTIVAL ZONES.
SO, MARDI GRAS, LONE STAR, DICKENS.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN THE FESTIVAL ZONE, NONE OF THIS APPLIES.
IT GOES TO THE EVENT ORGANIZER, IT GOES TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
>> SINCE YOU SAID PARKS DEPARTMENT, THAT GOES BACK TO I HAD A QUESTION ON THIS VERY FIRST PAGE WHERE WE SAID ALIGNED PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULATIONS WITH CITY ORDINANCES, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE TASK, ONE OF YOU ALL'S TASKS.
EVENTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO WHAT THE DISPARITY IS IN THOSE TWO.
>> AS FAR AS I RECALL, THE DISCUSSION WAS TO ALIGN BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED.
SOUTH OF THE SEA WALL THAT BELONGS TO THE PARKS BOARD.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF RULES, THEIR OWN SET OF REGULATIONS, SO EVEN IF I HAD, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CATHERINE AND THE MARSHALL, BUT EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE CITY OF GALVESTON DEPARTMENT, AND YOU WANT TO BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SEA WALL, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PARK BEFORE YOU PAY THEIR FEES, AND IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME.
>> CAN WE ADD THAT HERE, LIST OF THINGS TO ASK YOU ABOUT? PLEASE, SIR.
THANK YOU, DANIEL. WE'LL EVENTUALLY LET YOU GET FINISHED [LAUGHTER].
>> NO, IT'S OKAY. IT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
>> REGULATIONS REALLY DON'T SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHAT THE INTENTION WAS, AND SO THAT MIGHT BE WORTH LOOKING AT AND DISCUSSING IN THE FUTURE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> AS I RECALL, THE INTENTION WAS FOOD.
THERE WAS NO PEDDLERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> IT'S FOR THINGS LIKE FOOD SERVICE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SECTION 19.54 RULES FOR PEDDLERS, IF THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO THE FESTIVALS AND THE PARADES AND THE ORGANIZERS ZONE FOR AN EVENT,
[00:25:06]
BUT SOME OF THIS IS NOT ON A PAVED SIDEWALK OR GREAT PORTION OF PUBLIC STREET.THAT DOESN'T REALLY HOLD TRUE TO THE EVENTS BECAUSE, FOR SURE, I SEE THEM ON THE GRASS, ON THE SIDEWALK, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE.
>> WE HAVE TREATED THE PEDDLERS SECTION ACT 19.54 AS MOSTLY BEING DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES PEOPLE, WHICH WE ALMOST NEVER DO.
I THINK THE WHOLE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE DOING THIS LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, I'VE GOTTEN THREE.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN. PEOPLE DON'T DO DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES MUCH ANYMORE.
>> MAYBE WE NEED TO LOCK DOWN OUR DEFINITIONS A LITTLE BETTER ON THOSE.
>> MY COMMENT WOULD BE IS I THINK WE NEED PRIDE ZERO IN ALL THE FOOD SERVICE STUFF, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERN NEEDS TO BE AND WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I SEE AS THE BIGGER ISSUE.
>> IF I RECALL, COUNCIL MAN I JUST WENT BLANK.
WHAT'S THE [INAUDIBLE] THAT LOST THE ELECTION?
>> HARDCASTLE. HIS CONCERN WAS THE FOOD PARKS AND WANTING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE FOOD PARKS, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FOOD PARKS.
>> WHICH I THINK JOHN PAUL HAS THE SAME, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DEFINITELY AGREE IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
>> PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE FOOD PARKS, OR NOT TO HAVE THE FOOD PARKS?
>> WE HAVE THE RULES TO HAVE A FOOD PARK, BUT NOBODY'S BEEN ABLE TO PULL ONE OFF YET.
>> THE RULES ARE SUCH THAT IT MAKES IT WORSE.
IT DOESN'T DISCOURAGE IT, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T ENCOURAGE IT.
SO, INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE FOOD PARK AND HAVING A CLUSTER OF TRUCKS THERE, THESE GUYS ARE GOING, "HEY, I'M GOING TO GO MAKE A DEAL WITH JOE OVER HERE.
I WILL LEASE HIS PARKING LOT AND I'M GOING TO SET UP MY TRUCK.
I GET TO LIVE ON MY OWN RULES." I THINK THAT'S HOW WE'VE ENDED UP WITH THESE TRUCKS SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE, IN MY OPINION.
>> JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, WHAT I HAVE ENVISIONED FOR US FOR OUR MEETING, WE WON'T HAVE ONE TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE INDUSTRY COME IN AND SPEAK TO US AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE THE ROADBLOCKS HAVE BEEN, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE CERTAIN THINGS MORE APPEALING TO THEM.
I'D LIKE TO GET INPUT FROM THE FOOD TRUCK OWNERS.
THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO BEFORE WE REALLY START KNUCKLING DOWN REAL HARD INTO THIS.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT EVEN HERE TALKING ABOUT IS THERE A DEMAND FOR THIS KIND OF THING OR NOT.
BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS CLEARLY, THOSE TRUCKS ARE GOING WHERE THERE'S A DEMAND AND WHERE THEY CAN SATISFY THE DEMAND AND MAKE MONEY.
IS THERE A DEMAND AND CAN THEY MAKE MONEY AT A PARK? WHEREVER THAT PARK WINDS UP BEING, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PLACES THEY CAN BE. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT CAN TELL US.
>> BECAUSE THEIR BUSINESS PAYS FOR IT.
>> I THINK I HEARD [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE ATTEMPTING, I REMEMBER, WHAT'S THAT ONE WITH THE EVENT, [INAUDIBLE]? WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THAT PLACE DOWN ON 61ST WHERE THEY DO THE WEDDINGS? I THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING A FOOD PARK AT ONE TIME, THE PALMS YEAH.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT WENT AWAY AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT LOCATION FOR ONE TOO.
>> SOMETHING WAY DOWN, WEST END.
>> I THINK TO ME, I DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR DECISION-MAKING POWERS LIE HERE, BUT THE 1,000 FEET PER TRUCK, IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE EXCESSIVE.
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. THAT'S TOO MUCH SPACE.
>> IF YOU'RE OVER HERE, LIKE THIS [LAUGHTER].
THANK YOU, DANIEL. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD?
>> YEAH. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TIME IT IS.
>> GOOD WITH TIME. SHOULD PUSHCARTS BE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED OR ALLOWED? IN THE PAST, STAFF HAS SAID OUR DETERMINATION HAS BEEN JUST WORKING WITH THE REGULATIONS AND UNDERSTAND THEM AS THEY STAND.
THAT YOU COULD DO A PUSHCART, BUT WE WOULD PERMIT YOU LIKE A FOOD TRUCK OTHERWISE.
SO FAR, NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE PUSHCART.
I THINK THE DEAL WITH PUSHCARTS IS THEY WANT TO BE MOBILE.
WHEN THEY HEAR, WELL, SORRY, YOU CAN'T BE MOBILE, I THINK THAT KILLS THE DEAL, BUT THAT'S A QUESTION [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A PUSHCART?
>> BECAUSE THOSE LITTLE ICE CREAM ONES THAT HAVE THE LITTLE MEXICAN ICE CREAM, I LOVE THOSE THINGS.
[OVERLAPPING] ON THE BEACH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE USED TO HAVE THOSE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE STILL HAVE THE ICE CREAM TRUCK MAN.
WHEN HE DRIVES AROUND AND PLAYS THE MUSIC IN A NEIGHBORHOOD [OVERLAPPING].
[00:30:05]
>> ARE ANY OF THESE RULES AND THIS ORDINANCE SUPPOSED TO COVER THE ICE CREAM MAN? [OVERLAPPING]
>> MOBILE CONCESSIONS SERVING ONLY FROZEN NOVELTIES MAY OPERATE ISLAND WIDE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TOO.
BOB, I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS [LAUGHTER].
>> HE'S EXEMPT FROM EVERYTHING, BY THE WAY, OF THAT ONE SENTENCE?
>> DOES EVERYBODY PUT POPSICLES ON THEIR TRUCK?
>> YEAH, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HE CAN'T DO ACCORDING TO THIS ORDINANCE, UNLESS HE'S EXEMPT BY THAT ONE SENTENCE.
ICE CREAM TRUCKS ARE IMPORTANT.
>> I USED TO RUN AFTER THAT TRUCK WHEN I WAS A KID.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING [OVERLAPPING].
>> DANIEL, I WANT US TO PLOW THROUGH THIS SO THAT WE CAN GET BUTCH UP HERE TO TALK TO US FOR [OVERLAPPING] A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
>> SURE. BUT YEAH, WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF THOSE ICE CREAM TRUCKS.
THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC THINGS WITHOUT THEM THAT GIVE THEM SOME EXEMPTIONS AS WELL WE COVER HERE, BUT YEAH.
SHOULD WE ALLOW THE FOOD TRUCK ON A VACANT UNDEVELOPED LOTS? WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOTHING THAT SAYS THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY PROHIBITED.
NOW IS THAT A GOOD THING OR BAD THING? SOMETHING TO DISCUSS AND THINK ABOUT DO WE WANT TO TYPE NOW ON THAT OR PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, OR IS THAT NECESSARY? THERE IS WHAT WE CALL THE OUTDOOR DISPLAY LOOPHOLE, WHICH MAY BE WORTH LOOKING AT.
BASICALLY, IF SOMEONE HAS A BUSINESS AND THEY'RE SELLING SOMETHING RETAIL IN THIS BUSINESS, THEY CAN TO A DEGREE, BUT THEY'RE SELLING MERCHANDISE OUTSIDE.
THAT'S HOW THE T-MOBILE FOLKS AND THE METRO FOLKS HAD THEIR LITTLE TANS OUTSIDE THEIR STORES SOMETIMES.
WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST CONCESSIONS ATTEMPTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS I DON'T MEAN THAT AS IN CERTAINLY BENDING THE RULES.
BUT LITERALLY USING THOSE RULES, FOR EXAMPLE, TO SELL SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A PRE-PACKAGED OR EASILY PORTABLE FORM ON THEIR CONCESSION INSIDE THE STORE AS WELL.
WE CAN JUST THINK AND SUDDENLY TECHNICALLY THEY'RE ALLOWED TO PUT ALL THE STUFF OUTSIDE, WHICH NORMALLY WOULD BE ALLOWED FOR A FOOD TRUCK.
THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING AT IT AGAIN AND TYPING DOWN ON AND SAYING THAT THEY ARE EXEMPT OR NOT.
>> WE SAW THAT AT LINDA SPOT DURING COVID.
>> YEAH. THE MARGARITAS OUTSIDE.
>> IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S A VERY SIMILAR IDEA.
BUT WELL NOT SINGLING ANYONE OUT, BUT IT HAS [OVERLAPPING]
>> OH, I'M NOT OUT TO SINGLE THAT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT IS SINGLED OUT.
>> WOULD THAT BE LIKE THAT [OVERLAPPING] ANIMAL PRODUCE AND SOME OTHER STUFF LIKE HONEY AND STUFF LIKE THAT [OVERLAPPING]?
>> YES. THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ORANGE OR MANGOES TECHNICALLY PRE-PACKAGED AS LONG AS YOU DON'T CUT IT UP.
>> YES, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE ONE OF THESE EXAMPLES.
>> WITH THOSE KIND OF VENDORS, THOSE KIND OF CONCESSIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER THIS ORDINANCE OR THEY'RE NOT?
>> THEY ARE, HOWEVER, IN THE PAST, STAFF HAS MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT IF THEY'RE SELLING, FOR EXAMPLE, FRUIT, JUST AN EXAMPLE, AND THEY SELL THEIR FRUIT INSIDE THE STORE THAT THEY ARE LEASING FROM THEIR LANDLORD'S STORE, IF THEY MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LANDLORD TO HAVE THEIR FRUIT FOR SALE THERE TOO.
WELL, THEY'RE SELLING OUT OF THAT STORE NOW.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY CAN THEN DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OUTDOOR DISPLAY WITH THEIR LANDLORD, CAN OR NOT?
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LITTLE DIFFERENT I GUESS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A BASIC FRUIT STAND.
IT COULD BE IN A PARKING LOT [INAUDIBLE] YOU SEE THEM ALL THE TIME THEY'RE SELLING FRUIT OR HONEY OR THAT KIND OF SOMETHING.
THEY'RE JUST A BASIC LITTLE STAND A LITTLE TRANSACTION COUNTER AND A LITTLE SHADE, AND THEN ALL THE FRUITS PROBABLY BEHIND THEM AND THEY'RE JUST SELLING.
>> RIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS, AT LEAST ORDINANCES THAT IT'S MY CLARIFY IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT THE CONCESSION SALES SHOULD BE INSIDE OF THE CONCESSION VEHICLE.
HOWEVER, IF THEY ARE SELLING THOSE FRUITS OR WHATEVER INSIDE THE STORE, SHOULD THAT GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE OUTDOOR DISPLAY THAT THE BUSINESS OWNER HAS? THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENS.
>> WELL, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A VEHICLE OR STORE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A STANDALONE LITTLE BOOTH THAT CAN BE SET UP ANYWHERE.
>> BUT DANIEL SAYING THAT IF THE STANDALONE LITTLE BOOTH THAT IS THE WAY THEY CAN SET UP NOW IS ONLY IF THEY ARE ATTACHED TO A STORE.
IF WE WANTED TO DO IT SEPARATELY, WE NEED TO.
LIKE ON SEAWALL FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, DANIEL, THERE IS A PLACE THAT SELLS VANILLA AND HONEY.
[00:35:03]
[OVERLAPPING] HOW ARE THEY LICENSED?>> THEY'RE LICENSE AS A CONCESSION.
NOW, THEY, IN THAT CASE, IT'S AT LEAST THE ONE I'M THINKING OF I THINK OF THE TWO LOCATIONS I BELIEVE THAT BOTH I'M MAKING LOTS.
THERE'S NO PRIMARY STORE THAT WISH YOU COULD SALE THROUGH.
TECHNICALLY THAT GENTLEMAN HAS TO HAVE ALL OF HIS PRODUCT INSIDE THAT TRAILER.
HE CAN'T PUT IT ANYWHERE ELSE.
WHEREAS A GENTLEMAN 61ST STREET CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OUTDOOR DISPLAY ISSUE AND CAN HAVE AN OUTSIDE OF HIS TRAILER BECAUSE TRAILER IS NOT VERY BIG.
BASICALLY, HE IS ALLOWED THROUGH THIS ROUNDABOUT WAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT MOSTLY CONCESSIONS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO AND THAT IS HAVE HIS PRODUCT OUTSIDE OF HIS TRAILER.
>>DID THAT HELP MAKE IT MORE CLEAR?
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE THINKING OF ABOUT IS OUTDOOR DISPLAY.
>> BUT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A STORE.
>> IT HAS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORE.
I HAVE TO GO INTO THE STORE TO BE ABLE TO BUY SOME FRUIT
>> IF IT'S NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A STORE, IT'S JUST GOT TO BE INSIDE THIS LITTLE SHED OR HIS TRAILER OR WHATEVER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF THEY DON'T SELL BARBECUE SANDWICHES INSIDE THE STORE, THEN I CAN ONLY SELL A BARBECUE SANDWICH FROM WITHIN THE TRAILER.
I CAN'T PUT BARBECUE SANDWICHES WHICH IS ON A RACK OUTSIDE THE TRAILER AS AN OUTDOOR DISPLAY.
>> BUT ALL OF THOSE RULES ARE PART OF THIS ORDINANCE, SIR?
>> YES. THERE'S A FEW THINGS LIKE I SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ISSUE THAT IT'S COMING DOWN TO STAFF TO MAKE OUR BEST DETERMINATION TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW THESE THINGS WORK AND THAT'S WHY WE BRING THESE QUESTIONS TO YOU RIGHT NOW IS THIS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER? SO OPEN QUESTION FOR ME [OVERLAPPING].
>> BOB IS JUST A GUY TRY TO MAKE A LIVING.
>> JUST LIKE ON THIS TRAY AND NOW THAT YOU HAVE BUT.
>> DANIEL, NOW WHAT ABOUT LET'S MOVE ON WITH THE THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM SIZE OF CONCESSION BEING [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? JUST ONE.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A MOBILE FOOD TRUCK? WHAT IS CONSIDERED MOBILE? DOES IT HAVE TO HAVE WHEELS TO BE MOBILE? OR WHAT IS CONSIDERED MOBILE?
>> IS THAT DEFINITELY DOES. [OVERLAPPING].
>> A CONCESSION THAT MOVES FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION PROVIDING THEIR SERVICES.
>> BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS WHEELS. THAT'S DRAWN OUT. I'M JUST CURIOUS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS WHEELS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS.
>> YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. TO GO BACK, WE'LL HIT ON THE THE QUESTION ABOUT THE EYES CONTRACTUAL FAST BECAUSE IT TIES IN.
>> ALL OF OUR CONCESSIONS HAVE TO BE THE ORDINATES HAVE TO BE DONE OUT OF A VEHICLE OF SOME SORT.
PUSH CARTS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A VEHICLE SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU COULD SELL STUFF LIKE A PICKUP TRUCK OR WHATEVER HAS TO BE SPECIFICALLY AND OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED FOR THAT.
WITH THE ICE CREAM TRUCKS, THEY ARE CONSERVED LOW-RISK BY THE COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY ARE SERVING PRE-PACKAGED COMMODITIES.
HUMAN HANDS NEVER TOUCHED THAT PRODUCT.
FOR THAT REASON THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BASICALLY DO WHAT THEY DO, WHICH IS ROAM AROUND THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND STUFF AND SELL ICE CREAM CONES.
THOSE TRUCKS DON'T EVER SCOOP ICE CREAM ANYMORE.
IT'S THE FOLLOWING POM POMS, OR THE DRUM STICKS OR WHEREVER WE ARE REACHING OUT AND HANDED OUT, YOUR HANDS DON'T TOUCH THE PRODUCT OTHERWISE, AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, A LITTLE BIT EXEMPTED.
BUT YEAH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, SPECIFICALLY, ORDINANCES SAY THAT CONCESSION HAS TO BE OUT OF A VEHICLE SPECIFICALLY SHADE FOR THAT.
>> THEY GET TO MOVE LOCATIONS.
THEY DON'T HAVE PERMANENT OR SPECIFIC LOCATION.
THEY GET TO PLAY MUSIC. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY STILL PAY THE SAME FEE FOR THEIR LICENSE, BUT THEY CAN MOVE AROUND AND PUT IN THERE FOOD TRUCKS.
>> CAN HAVE A SPECIAL DISPENSATION.
>> HAVE SOME SPECIAL DISPENSATION.
>> YEAH. ONCE AGAIN, JEFF MAYBE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT ON THIS.
BUT THE DIFFERENCE I BELIEVE IS AFFECTED THEIR CONSERVATIVE LOW-RISK BY THE HEALTH DISTRICT COMING.
EVEN SHAVED ICE WHERE THEY'RE REALLY JUST PUTTING SYRUP ON SHAVED ICE LEAVING CONSIDER THAT TO BE HIGH RISK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT THEY NEED TO LOOK AT [OVERLAPPING].
OKAY. ANYWAY, LET'S GIVE RICHARD A CHANCE HERE. LET'S FINISH UP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. SIZE OF THE CONCESSION TRAILER, WE DON'T HAVE A LIMIT.
SOMEONE COULD THEORETICALLY PULL UP 40 FOOT SEMI OR PROPERTY CALLED FOOD TRUCK.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED, BUT THE REASON THAT THERE'S REALLY REGULATIONS EXISTENCE BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS DONE IT.
[LAUGHTER] IS THAT WORTH LOOKING AT? ONCE AGAIN, OPEN QUESTION FOR COMMISSIONS.
ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS DO WE WANT TO DO A TEMPORARY, PERMANENT LIKE SAN MARCOS DOES OR NOT? IS THERE A WAY TO DO THAT?
[00:40:01]
>> LIKE FOR THE SUMMER? AS IF NO ONE [OVERLAPPING] OR EVEN A [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT. ONE OF THE ISSUES AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY SHOULD INFLUENCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
BUT JUST TO GIVE SOME INSIGHT.
ONE OF THE CONFUSION THAT COMES FROM A LOT OF MORE CONCESSIONS OR FOOD TRUCK, ESPECIALLY NEW PEOPLE.
THERE ARE NEW FOLKS COMING IN, THEY DON'T KNOW SOMETIMES, BUT ARE EXISTING FOLKS DO, IS THAT A ONE COMING IN FOR THE WEEKEND FOR WHATEVER FOR JUNE 10TH OR FOR 4TH OF JULY OR WHATEVER.
THEY JUST WANT COMING FROM THAT WEEKEND AND THEY'LL GO PULL THEIR TEMPORARY COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT PERMIT FROM GCHD, AND THEN THEY'LL COME IN HERE AND THINK EVERYTHING'S COOL.
THEY'LL SAY, WELL, "I'VE GOT A TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR GCHD." "WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A TEMPORARY PERMIT." "WELL, HOW DO I GET ONE?" YOU DON'T GET ONE.
YOU CAN GET FOR ALL YEAR OR NOTHING.
I'M SURE BUTCH CAN SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT FOLKS HAVE HAD THAT ISSUE A NUMBER OF TIMES.
>> BUT ALL OF OUR SANCTION FESTIVALS ARE COVERED UNDER [OVERLAPPING]
>> THOSE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS, CORRECT.
>> WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY OF THOSE?
>> NO. DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT MARTIN, DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT DICKENS, NECESSARILY DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT [INAUDIBLE].
>> WHAT ABOUT FARMERS MARKETS? HOW ARE THOSE COVERED?
>> WELL, FARMER'S MARKETS ARE LAND USE.
>> THEY'RE WHAT? ASSUMED TO BE IN A PERMANENT LOCATION AND I DON'T KNOW.
WE HAD [INAUDIBLE] JUST COME IN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FARMERS' MARKET.
>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF EITHER SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE IN THE LIST.
WHAT IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN FARMERS MARKET?
>> BECAUSE THEY ARE NOTHING BUT A SERIES OF BOOTHS AND THE PARK [INAUDIBLE] PER BOOTH.
>> WELL, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET THEIR REGULAR PERMIT AND THE PERMISSION OF THE PROPERTY.
>> WE WILL SEE IT NOW THAT WOULD FOLLOW THAT EXACT SAME CONVENIENCE.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE MOMENT.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY PUSHCARTS LICENSE AT ALL?
>> WE DON'T. WE'VE HAD FEW PEOPLE WHO'VE INQUIRED, AND MY FEELING IS ONCE THEY LEARN THEY CAN'T WALK UP AND DOWN, THEY LOSE INTEREST AND GO ELSEWHERE. WE'VE HAD INQUIRIES.
>> WELL, WE'VE TRADITIONALLY HAD PUSHCARTS SOMEWHERE WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID.
THERE'S A GUY WHO'D PUSH A LITTLE TACO CART.
IN FACT, I THINK IT'S IN THE GALVESTON COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM RIGHT NOW.
>> IT IS, YEAH. THE REPRODUCTION HAS SAID THAT.
>> I CAN SEE WHY WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUSHCARTS BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT PRACTICAL.
WITH THESE RULES, MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER HAVING SOME DIFFERENT RULES FOR PUSHCARTS [OVERLAPPING].
>> DEFINE WHAT A PUSH CART IS.
>> THE ONLY ONES THAT I KNOW WERE ON THE BEACH, AND THEY WERE SELLING THOSE LEMON ICE CREAM THINGS, BUT THAT WAS THROUGH THE PARK [OVERLAPPING] SO THEY COULD PUSH UP [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE]
>> I THINK PUSHCARTS ARE [INAUDIBLE] LIKE THE CRUISE SHIP AREA.
>> WE NEED THE LUCKY DOG TO SHOW UP HERE.
HAVE YOU GUYS DONE THE LUCKY DOG IN NEW ORLEANS?
>> OH, GOSH, YEAH. WHAT'S HIS NAME?
>> THEY ALL GO. THEY PUSH THEIR CARTS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THEY PUSH ALL THEIR CARTS TO THE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> WHAT WAS HIS NAME? IGNATIUS REILLY? [LAUGHTER].
>> IGNATIUS REILLY, WHAT A NAME.
>> YOU'VE GIVEN US AN AWFUL LOT TO THINK ABOUT.
I THINK WE HAVE FIGURED OUT IS WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TACKLE HERE.
WE HAVE TO SET SOME PRIORITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MARSHAL STROUD SPEAK TO US.
DANIEL, WE'RE GOING TO PESTER YOU TO DEATH, AND TO TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.
THEN ON THE 20TH, WE'LL HAVE THE INDUSTRY PEOPLE COMING IN.
I IMAGINE THEN, IF WE TALK TO MARISSA ABOUT PUTTING THE WORD OUT ON THAT, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ON THE EACH SIDE OF THE ISSUE, YAY AND NAYS.
PERHAPS, WE CAN SEND OUT TO OUR 21 PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN PERMITS, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO THIS.
IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN COMING OR AT LEAST LISTENING IN ON THE 20TH, PLEASE.
>> DOES THE 21 INCLUDE THE PARK OPERATORS, TOO?
>> HOW MANY OF THOSE DO WE HAVE?
>> I'M NOT SURE. I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LIST.
>> YOUR PREFERENCE, IF YOU WANT TO STAND OR SIT, IT'S UP TO YOU, SIR.
>> I'LL STAND RIGHT HERE, UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO SIT.
>> NO. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
>> I'LL SIT. THAT WAS UNINTIMIDATING [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU WANT TO START WITH?
>> WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS DO YOU HAVE WITH ANY OF THESE VENDORS?
>> WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO START? [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, START, I GUESS, WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE PERMITS, AND WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?
>> WELL, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RESOLUTION.
IN THE PAST, THE GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT WOULD GIVE THEM A HEALTH PERMIT AND NEVER TELL THEM ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT NEEDING A PERMIT IN GALVESTON.
I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY WITH [INAUDIBLE] OVER THERE,
[00:45:02]
AND WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER GETS A PERMIT COMING TO GALVESTON, THEY KNOW THAT'S JUST ONE PART OF THE PUZZLE.THEY HAVE TO FINISH IT UP BY GETTING A PERMIT FROM THE CITY.
WE HAVEN'T FOUND OUT THAT IT'S NOT WORKING.
>> THOSE ARE PEOPLE WITH FOOD TRUCK?
A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY DON'T DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, DO THEIR RESEARCH ON WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO TO HAVE A BUSINESS.
THEY JUST THINK, "WELL, THIS IS ALL I NEED.
I'M SELLING FOOD, THAT'S ALL I'M DOING, AND I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THERE AND MAKE A LOT OF MONEY."
>> DO THEY JUST PARK WHEREVER THEY FEEL LIKE PARKING?
>> NO. NORMALLY, THEY HAVE A PLACE THEY'RE GOING TO PARK.
>> OKAY. THEY GOT THAT FIGURED OUT.
>> THEY'VE GOT THAT FIGURED OUT, AND THEY WORKED OUT A DEAL WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, OR THEY'RE IN A FOOD COURT, ONE OF THE TWO, BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, AND THAT'S GETTING A PERMIT FROM THE CITY.
THAT HAPPENS DURING BUSY SEASONS.
[NOISE] A LOT OF THOSE, THEY DON'T KNOW, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THEY DON'T KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
MAYBE THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO DEFEAT THE SYSTEM, AND THEY DO UNTIL THEY GET CAUGHT.
BUT EDUCATION IS A BIG FACTOR, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE WORKING ON A GOOD SOLUTION WITH THE HEALTH DISTRICT TO HELP US EDUCATE THESE PEOPLE.
>> IT'S MOSTLY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COUNTY PERMITS.
>> WELL, THEY ALL KNOW THEY NEED A HEALTH DISTRICT PERMIT.
THEY DON'T HAVE OUR CITY PERMIT.
>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A CITY PERMIT [NOISE] ONCE THEY APPLY?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER. THAT'S DANIEL.
HE'S A SPECIALIST IN THAT FIELD.
>> IF THEY HAVE ALL THEIR DOCS ON THE ROW, THEY'LL GET IT IN THE SAME DAY, A DAY OR TWO TOPS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. IF THEY RECENTLY INFORMED THAT THEY NEED A PERMIT, LET'S SAY A WEEK BEFORE AN EVENT.
>> THEY HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME.
>> THEY HAVE TIME TO GET A CITY PERMIT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AS LONG AS THEY PROVIDE ALL THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND WE DON'T HAVE 50 PEOPLE DOING IT AT ONCE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. WHAT HAPPENS ON A SATURDAY IF YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS A HEALTH PERMIT, BUT DOESN'T HAVE A FOOD TRUCK PERMIT?
>> WE WRITE THEM A TICKET AND TELL THEM TO PACK UP AND GO HOME.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON REGULATING A FOOD TRUCK PARK VERSUS REGULATING FOOD TRUCK HERE, FOOD TRUCK THERE, FOOD TRUCK EVERYWHERE.
>> IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE EASIER TO MANAGE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT, THEY'RE ALL CONGREGATED IN AN AREA, YOU'RE NOT HUNTING THEM DOWN IN DIFFERENT PLACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
HERE'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THOUGH, IS BY ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW, THEY REQUIRE YOU TO RUN OFF A GENERATOR POWER OR EVERYONE HAS TO HAVE THEIR OWN TEMPORARY POLE.
THAT PROBABLY WORKED BACK WHEN THERE WASN'T FOOD COURTS, BUT WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A FOOD COURT TODAY? THE ADVANTAGE TO HAVING A FOOD COURT IS YOU'RE ALL IN ONE LOCATION.
YOU DON'T HAVE A GENERATOR RUNNING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A POWER POLE, AND YOU'RE PAYING YOUR ANNUAL FEE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE, AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLUG INTO THEIR POWER SOURCE AND NOT HAVE A GENERATOR RUNNING BECAUSE LET'S SAY YOU'RE THERE FOR THE WEEKEND, LET'S JUST GO FOR THE WEEKEND, YOU GOT PERISHABLES IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR THAT YOU GOT TO KEEP REFRIGERATED.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE STUFF OUT EVERY DAY AND TAKE IT HOME, YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE AND COME BACK AND OPEN YOUR DOORS AND WORK AGAIN.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT FEASIBLE TO RUN A GENERATOR.
LET'S SAY WE DID HAVE A FOOD COURT THAT HAD 10 FOOD TRUCKS IN IT AND ALL 10 OF THEM HAD TO RUN THEIR GENERATOR.
[BACKGROUND] NOT ONLY IS IT GOING TO BE NOISY, IT'S GOING TO STINK.
>> THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FOOD COURT, WE NEED TO ENABLE THEM TO PLUG INTO POWER.
[NOISE] THAT NEEDS TO BE AN OPTION.
THAT'S NOT AN OPTION RIGHT NOW. THEY DO IT.
>> SO YOU CAN HAVE A FOOD COURT AND NOT HAVE POWER FOR THEM?
>> YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO BECAUSE THE FOOD TRUCKS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN TEMPORARY POLE WITH THEIR OWN METER.
>> THAT WAS CONDUCIVE WHENEVER YOU WOULD JUST GO TO JOHNNY OVER THERE AND SAY, "LET ME PUT IT ON YOUR VACANT LOT, AND I'LL PUT ME A T-POLE OUT THERE AND PUT MY TRUCK UP ON THERE, AND NOW I'M SET."
>> WHAT ABOUT THE ONES THAT COME AND SET UP CAMP AND NEVER MOVE?
>> BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE FOOD TRUCKING IN FORT BEND COUNTY, AND THEY REQUIRE YOU TO, AT LEAST ON A WEEKLY BASIS, GO TO A COMMISSARY, SO YOU COULDN'T JUST GO SET UP SHOP [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S THE THING. EVERY FOOD TRUCK THAT SERVES FOOD THAT HAS A HEALTH PERMIT HAS TO HAVE A COMMISSARY.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT COMMISSARY IS EITHER THROUGH, LIKE THE TACO TRUCKS ON BROADWAY, THEY USE PAPER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY REALLY DO, [LAUGHTER] BUT THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO USE THE REFRIGERATION AND STORAGE FACILITIES OF THAT BUILDING, SO IF THE GUY HAS A SECTION [OVERLAPPING].
>> OH, THE BUILDING THERE, YEAH.
>> NOT THAT THEY'RE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY'RE PARKED IN FRONT OF IT.
>> I HAD A COMMISSARY KITCHEN THAT I CLOSED WHEN I MOVED MY RESTAURANT OVER HERE,
[00:50:01]
AND I HAD ABOUT 10 FOOD VENDORS THAT CONTRACTED WITH ME, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO STORE THEIR FOOD EVERY NIGHT AND STUFF, AND IF THEY HAD TO PREP STUFF, IF THEY CONTRACTED TO PREP, THEY WOULD PREP, AND THEN WE HAD THE WASTE DISPOSAL.THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT AGREEMENT WHEREVER THEY ARE.
>> NO, FOR THE CITY. [OVERLAPPING]
[LAUGHTER] THE CITY DON'T WANT YOU DUMPING YOUR WATER IN THEIR SEWER IF IT DIDN'T COME OUT OF THEIR TAP.
>> SO IF YOU BRING WATER FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY DON'T WANT IT TO GO IN OUR DRAIN BECAUSE THAT'S MORE WATER GOING IN THE SYSTEM THAN WHAT'S COMING OUT, TECHNICALLY.
>> YOU HAVE THESE PEOPLE COME FROM TOMBALL, WE HAVE ONE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY, AND HE HAS A COMMISSARY AGREEMENT WITH SOME PLACE UP TO HARRIS COUNTY TO TAKE HIS STUFF, AND HE HAS THOSE TOTES THAT HE WOULD DRAIN HIS GRAYWATER IN AND TAKE THE TOTES, PUT THEM ON THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK AND TAKE OFF.
NOW, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE HONEY LEFT FROM THAT SITE? [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO SAY, HE TOOK THEM TO THE COMMISSARY AND PUT THAT IN THAT DRAIN.
>> REALITY IS IT'S PROBABLY IN A DITCH BETWEEN HERE AND HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE THAT.
>> OKAY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A COUNTY RULE.
>> HAVE YOU-ALL BEEN BRIEFED RIGHT QUICK ON THAT?
>> THE HARRIS COUNTY AND THE HOUSTON- REQUIRES THEIR VENDORS TO CHECK IN DAILY WITH THE [INAUDIBLE].
THEY REQUIRE [INAUDIBLE] FOR EACH VENDOR AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO CHECK IN DAILY WITH THE TOWN CLERK.
WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> MY CLIENTELE HAD THE TYPE OF TRUCKS, THEY CAME DAILY.
I MEAN, THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE STORAGE CAPABILITY [OVERLAPPING] TO GO MORE THAN A DAY.
>> WELL, BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING TO FOOD COURTS, WHICH [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER CONVERSATION.
>> THAT IS WHAT THE CITY, IN A WHOLE, I THINK, WANTED A TRUCK BECAUSE HARRIS COUNTY HAS FOOD COURTS AND I MEAN, THEY ATTRACT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
>> THIS ONE IN AUSTIN THAT'S UP THERE IS GREAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ONE DILEMMA IN [INAUDIBLE] IS THEY HAVE ENOUGH SPACE WHERE YOU HAVE A 1,000 SQUARE FOOT PER VENDOR TO BE ABLE TO PUT ENOUGH VENDORS.
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? IF THERE'S THAT THEY'RE BUILDING APARTMENTS ON IT, THEY'RE BUILDING SOME OF THE BUSINESSES [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEN THEY GOT NO PLACE TO PARK.
>> THEN THEY HAVE TO HAVE PARKING.
SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR RESTRICTIONS, IS HAVING THE SPACE FOR THESE LARGER FOOD COURTS.
>> WELL I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR TASK IS, IS TO BRING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL SOMETHING THAT WILL BE PRACTICABLE AND USABLE.
BECAUSE AS THE ORDINANCE STANDS TODAY, YOU CANNOT HAVE A FOOD COURT.
>> NOT ONLY DOES IT HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL AND USABLE, IT HAS TO BE IN A GOOD LOCATION BECAUSE YOU CAN PUT IT IN SOME PLACE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEN IT HAS TO BE A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE PERSON INVESTING IN THE CITY.
>> THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO INVEST THEIR PROPERTY.
>> WITH THE COST OF THE FOOD COURT, I DON'T THINK $1,000 IS UNREASONABLE FOR 12 MONTHS.
I THINK CHARGE $100 A MONTH AND THEY'RE GOING TO RECOUP THEIR MONEY PLUS THEIR EXPENSES, IT'S GOING TO BE A PROFITABLE BUSINESS.
$500 A YEAR FOR A FOOD TRUCK IS NOT UNREASONABLE BECAUSE THAT'S PAYING IN 12 MONTHS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEASONAL ANYWAY AND MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO COME DOWN HERE WHENEVER THEY CAN SELL THE MOST IN THE SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK.
GETTING A TEMPORARY PERMIT, UNLESS YOU CHARGE A TEMPORARY PERMIT OF $500, IT'S JUST AS MUCH WORK FOR DELAYING EVERYBODY TO GET THAT PERMIT WHETHER IT'S TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT.
>> MUCH TIME DO YOU-ALL SPEND LOOKING INTO, I HATE TO SAY, POLICING THESE FOOD TRUCKS.
>> COMPLAINTS COME IN REGULARLY AND THERE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT ARE THEY COMPLAINING ABOUT?
>> A FOOD TRUCK WHERE IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE, A FOOD TRUCK'S NOT HOOKED TO ITS SPOT, RUNNING THE GENERATOR, A FOOD TRUCK GOT CHAIRS OUT THERE, A FOOD TRUCK DOESN'T HAVE A PERMIT, A FOOD TRUCK TOO CLOSE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EVERY VIOLATION IN HERE THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT SOMEWHERE OR SOME WAY.
WHETHER THEY'RE LEGITIMATE OR NOT, WE STILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE IF THEY'RE VALID OR IF THEY'RE NOT.
>> NO THEY'RE COMPLAINING ON EACH OTHER.
>> NOT ONLY THAT, A LOT OF THE BRICK AND MORTARS COMPLAIN.
>> SEE THAT GENTLEMAN BACK THERE, HE'S ALWAYS COMPLAINING. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S TASKING, BUT IT'S A NECESSARY INVESTIGATION.
I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING.
IF I'M HAVING TO PAY $500 FOR MY FOOD TRUCK AND $1,000 FOR MY FOOD COURT, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I BE OKAY IF SOMEBODY'S OVER HERE AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMIT AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR $500 AND THEY'RE RAKING IN MY BUSINESS AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE OVERHEAD?
>> I COULD SEE IT WITH THE BRICK AND MORTAR GUYS.
[00:55:01]
THEY NEED TO COME TO TOWN. WE NEED THEM HERE.THEY'RE GOOD ATTRACTIONS, NOT JUST FOR MORE TOURISTS, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OUT FOR OUR TOURISTS AND A LOT OF THEM THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.
IT'S AN EXPERIENCE. THEY'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE, IF THEY'RE FROM TIMBUKTU, THEY NEVER HAD A FOOD TRUCK, THEY WANT TO STOP OR NEED TO TACO AT A FOOD TRUCK OR [INAUDIBLE] FOOD TRUCK [OVERLAPPING].
>> BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN IT ON TV.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU'D HAVE ALL THOSE PEOPLE HURDLED IN ONE SPOT.
>> I WANT TO GIVE OUR COMMISSIONERS A LITTLE TINY SECOND TO GO, BUT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR, AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LIST HERE OBVIOUSLY, WE DIDN'T ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR THIS, PARK BOARD VERSUS CITY.
>> OKAY. PARK BOARD TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING SOUTH OF THE SEAWALL, THAT'S PUBLIC PROPERTY.
THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY SOUTH OF THE SEAWALL.
WE HAVE SOME PARCELS OF LAND THAT ARE SOUTH OF THE SEAWALL THAT ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND THEY HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE CITY ORDINANCES.
>> OKAY. DOWN TOWARD THE EAST END?
>> THEY HAVE TO ADHERE. IF THEY'RE ALL ON THE SOUTH OF THE SEAWALL ON THE SAND, THEY HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS AS THE ONES ON THE STRAND DOOR.
>> BUT THAT'S JUST ON THE SAND, NOT UPON THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF IT'S ON THE SEAWALL ITSELF, THEN THAT'S CITY.
>> OKAY. BUT NOBODY CAN HAVE AN ICE CREAM TRUCK ON THE SEAWALL?
>> WE HAVE A DIPPIN' DOTS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'VE GOT THAT DIPPIN' DOTS THAT WAS SOUTH OF THE SEAWALL ON A CONCRETE SLAB THAT'S PARKS BOARD.
>> ALL RIGHT. YOU DRAW IMAGINARY LINE FROM THE CURB.
>> UP AND DOWN. ANYTHING SOUTH OF THAT IS PARKS BOARD, ANYTHING NORTH OF THAT, THAT'S THE CITY.
>> OH, NOT NECESSARILY ON THE SAND?
>> NO, NO, NO, IT'S THE SIDEWALK.
>> OKAY. [NOISE] IT'S VERY LIMITED.
JUST A COUPLE OF PLACES THAT IT AFFECTS.
SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT UP TODAY ABOUT CRIMINAL HISTORIES FOR APPLICANTS.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT FITS IN.
WHAT'S THE REQUIREMENT? WHY WOULD WE DO IT? IF WE'RE DOING IT, WHAT PREVENTS SOMEONE FROM BEING ABLE TO GET A PERMIT? IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY RULES OF SAYING IF YOU DO THIS, THIS, THIS AND THIS, YOU DON'T GET A PERMIT, THEN WHY WOULD WE DO A CRIMINAL HISTORY, WHAT'S IT FOR?
>> THERE'S NO THRESHOLD FOR ACTION ON A BACKGROUND CHECK?
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT. WHY DO YOU WANT A CHILD MOLESTER DRIVING AN ICE CREAM TRUCK AROUND? THAT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE IT IN WRITING, WHAT'S TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING?
THEY HAVE TO GO AND ASK TO DO IT THEMSELVES.
THE ONLY WAY A POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DO A CRIMINAL HISTORY INVESTIGATION IS FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
[BACKGROUND] THERE'S A DPS AS THEIR PROCESS IN PLACE FOR YOU TO RUN YOUR OWN CRIMINAL HISTORY, AND THEN THEY'LL SEND IT TO YOU AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TURN IT IN WITH YOUR APPLICATION.
>> BUT THEN WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S THREE [INAUDIBLE].
>> WELL, IT'S PEACE OF MIND FOR THE CITY TO SAY, HEY, WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE, TO WEED OUT THESE PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE.
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY CRITERIA IN WRITING OF WHAT'S GOING TO RESTRICT THEM, THEN [OVERLAPPING] WHY DO IT? BUT I'M SAYING WE NEED TO DO IT, WE JUST NEED SOME RESTRICTIONS.
>> BESIDE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.
>> WE HAVE A FIRST SHOW FIRST PERMIT, THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY WE NEED MORE FROM YOU, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
DANIEL AND CATHERINE DID A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH THIS AND THE MARSHALS OFFICES, THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, AND WE DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> COMMISSIONERS. WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION, WE'LL STAND ADJOURNED, IF ANYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE A BREAK REAL QUICK, AND THEN WE'LL START BACK UP.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.