>> WHICH GETS HERE. WE'LL CALL [1. Call Meeting to Order] [00:00:02] THIS PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP TO ORDER ON JULY 20TH AT 2:02 PM. MR. COLLINS, IF YOU'D TAKE ATTENDANCE, PLEASE, SIR. [2. Attendance] >> OF COURSE. COMMISSIONER ANTHONELLY? >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIRPERSON BROWN? >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER EDWARDS? CHAIRPERSON HILL? >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER HOLLOWAY? >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER PENA? >> HERE. >> COMMISSIONER WALLA? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMAN JOHN PAUL LISTOWSKI? >> HERE. >> STAFF. >> STAFF PRESENT ARE MYSELF, PATRICK COLLINS, DANIEL LUNSFORD, PETE MELBOURNE, DANA FAIRWEATHER. THAT IS IT. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? SEEING NONE. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE ONE DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM WHICH IS TO REVIEW [4. Discussion and Action Items] THE CITY OF GALVESTON'S CONCESSIONS REGULATIONS, INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. YOU ARE DEFINITELY HELPING US. WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. YOU WILL EACH HAVE, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WE WILL BE KEEPING TRACK OF TIME. DANIEL'S GOING TO BE OUR TIMEKEEPER. HE'LL GIVE ME A SIGNAL AND I'LL RAISE MY PEN TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT. THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE. THEN THERE'S A SIGN-IN SHEET UP HERE ON THIS DESK RIGHT HERE FOR YOU TO SIGN IN. THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED SO THAT ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT CAN GO BACK AND LISTEN TO IT IN ANOTHER TIME. THIS IS OUR MICROPHONE RIGHT HERE ON THE TABLE. IF YOU'D GO AHEAD AND STAND UP JUST A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO REALLY MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, [LAUGHTER] THEN THAT WAY WE KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER WALLA AND COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI CAN HEAR YOU. WE KNOW THE MIC IS PICKING YOU UP AND RECORDING YOU. IF YOU WANT TO, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL US HOW YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY AND THEN BASICALLY IF IT FITS INTO YOUR TIME PERIOD THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, WHAT'S WORKING FOR YOU AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING FOR YOU ON THE CITY'S CURRENT REGULATIONS. THEN AFTER EVERYBODY'S HAD THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL SOME QUESTIONS AND IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, GREAT. IF YOU'RE LIKE, COUNT ME OUT, JUST GIVE US THE BIG NO SIGN. [LAUGHTER] WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANYBODY UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE'RE JUST IN AN INFORMATION GATHERING PROCESS. THE MORE INPUT WE GET, THE BETTER IT IS FOR US. WE WILL GO ONE AT A TIME. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WANT TO TALK BECAUSE WE ARE RECORDING AND IF WE ALL START TALKING OVER EACH OTHER, THEN THE REPORTING IS NOT GREAT. THE PEOPLE WHO GO BACK AND LISTEN LATER CAN'T TELL WHO WAS SAYING WHAT. IT'S JUST NOT CLEAR. WITHOUT ANYTHING FURTHER, DO ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE GET STARTED? NO? ANYTHING THAT ANY OF YOU ALL ARE LOOKING FOR SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. THEN IT'S FUN AND GAMES AND WE'RE READY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL START AT THE FRONT, MOVE OUR WAY TO THE BACK. ARE YOU GOING TO PUNT OR ARE YOU WITH US? [LAUGHTER] >> I'M RUNNING THE BALL. >> GREAT. [LAUGHTER] JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN YOU CAN SIGN IN FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GET STARTED. WE'LL SEE WHAT THE PLAY IS. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS AN AUDIBLE THERE SINCE SHE PLANNED TO USE AND SHE GAVE IT TO YOU. >> MY NAME IS CHRIS DOWNING. MY WIFE AND I, CLAIRE HAVE GALVESTON FOOD TRUCK PARK. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL FOOD TRUCK PARK OPERATORS IN GALVESTON. WE'VE BEEN OUT HERE SINCE 2004 AND THE FOOD TRUCK PARK BUSINESS IS VERY INTERESTING. [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO READ A STATEMENT. CLAIRE AND I OPENED THE FIRST CITY APPROVED CONCESSION PARK ON THE WEST END LAST YEAR AND HAVE OUR OWN CONCESSION TRADER AND HAVE MAINTAINED ALL CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH PERMITS AS HAVE OUR CONCESSION VENDORS. IT COSTS US $3,500 PLUS JUST TO INSTALL THE CITY REQUIRED ELECTRIC POLE AND 1000 FOR THE ANNUAL CONCESSION PARK PERMIT BEFORE WE CAN EVEN BRING VENDORS TO OUR PARK. WE REALIZED EARLY ON THAT WE WERE NOT OPERATING ON AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD. [00:05:03] WHICH HAS MADE IT A REAL CHALLENGE TO ATTRACT OTHER FOOD TRUCKS TO OUR LOCATION. IN ADDITION, WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PROPER LIABILITY INSURANCE, COMPLY WITH ZONING STANDARDS, CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON. OTHER LOCATIONS THAT ALLOW FOR UNAUTHORIZED CONCESSION VENDORS, UNLIKE US, ARE NOT PAYING FOR A CONCESSION PARK PERMIT, PROVIDING FOR CITY APPROVED ELECTRIC HOOKUPS AND OFTEN THE SITE IS NOT A ZONE FOR FOOD CONCESSION VENDORS TO EVEN OPERATE. THE CONCESSION VENDORS ARE ALSO NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLY TO ANY OF THE CITY OR COUNTY REGULATIONS OR PAY ANY REVENUE THAT WE SO DESERVEDLY GET, IN THE COUNTY AND CITY OF GALVESTON. OUR VENDORS HAVE TO PAY $500 TO THE CITY FOR AN ANNUAL PERMIT AND 75-350 DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PERMIT PLUS INSPECTION FEES TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INSURANCE, CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, SALES TAX CERTIFICATE, PROOF OF GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH PERMIT, PROOF OF COMMISSARY KITCHEN AFFILIATION, SITE PLAN, LEASE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER AND PHOTO OF CONCESSION VEHICLE. THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE VENDOR IS OF HIGH QUALITY AND THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE RECEIVING THE REQUIRED REVENUE. NOW COMPARE THIS TO THE VENDORS WHO JUST SHOW UP WITH NOTHING. THEY JUST SHOW UP, TAKE THE MONEY AND THEN GO BACK TO WHEREVER THEY CAME FROM. THE CITY SHOULD REALLY KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FOOD CONCESSION REGULATION SHOULD BE FAIR, PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT PROCESS WITH COMMONSENSE REGULATIONS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE ENFORCEABLE. WITH THAT IN MIND, WE FEEL THAT EVERY LOCATION SHOULD HAVE TO OBTAIN AN ANNUAL CONCESSION PARK PERMIT, WHICH WOULD BE A WIN-WIN FOR ALL CONCERNED. IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BETTER ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS AND PROVIDE A LAYER OF PROTECTION BY MAKING THE CONCESSION PARK OPERATOR ENSURE ALL VENDORS ARE IN COMPLIANCE. >> THIRTY SECONDS. >> I'LL READ FASTER. [LAUGHTER] ADDITIONALLY, THE VENDORS ARE IN POSITION TO BE MORE PROFITABLE AND THEREFORE WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING THIS MUCH WANTED SERVICE. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO HAVE CONFIDENCE THEY'RE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY OF HIGH CHARACTER. ASSUMING THIS IS THE GOAL TO BRING THE CITY CONCESSION REGULATIONS CURRENT AND ALSO CREATE A VENDOR FRIENDLY AND FAIR ENVIRONMENT, THERE SHOULD BE A MONETARY PENALTY NOT ONLY TO THE FOOD TRUCK THAT COMES HERE ILLEGALLY, BUT ALSO TO THE PROPERTY OWNER WHO ALLOWS IT. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE EMPHASIS ON THE PROPERTY OWNER. >> THREE MINUTES, BUT YOU KNOW YOU CAN PASS IT OFF TO HER AND YOU CAN FINISH IF YOU'D LIKE. >> I'VE ONLY GOT ONE MORE SENTENCE. >> GO, PLEASE. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] >> THE CITY SHOULD ALSO SEEK OUT INPUT AND RELY ON THOSE IN THE PLANNING AND ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS WHO DEAL WITH PUBLIC VENDORS, SITE OWNERS ON A DAILY BASIS REGARDING THESE ISSUES FIRSTHAND. >> PERFECT, THANK YOU. >> I THINK WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO POINT OUT WE'RE DOING IT BY THE BOOK, BUT THESE PEOPLE CAN COME ON THE ISLAND AND GO ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO AND NOT PAY ANYTHING. WE'RE PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE AND IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US TO GET FOOD TRUCKS TO OUR PLACE. OUT ON THE WEST END THERE IS NO FOOD. THANK YOU. >> AFTER WE LET EVERYBODY SPEAK, I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND ASK YOU ALL SOME QUESTIONS IF YOU'LL ALLOW IT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID COLLINS HAS JOINED US. THANK YOU. WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NEXT? >> I'M IN. [LAUGHTER] >> I WAS GOING TO SAY DON'T BE SHY AND AS SOON AS I SAID DON'T BE SHY I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN MARY WOULD GET UP. [LAUGHTER] >> HI EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS JASMINE BESS. I CURRENTLY DO NOT OWN A FOOD TRUCK ON THE ISLAND. I DO HAVE A BRICK-AND-MORTAR ON 39TH STREET AND ALSO HAVE A SECONDARY LOCATION IN TEXAS CITY, WHICH IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS TOPIC. BUT I AM A MULTIPLE LOCATION OWNER, [NOISE] BUT A FOOD TRUCK IS IN OUR IMMEDIATE FUTURE PLANS, POTENTIALLY FOR THE BAKERY THAT WE HAVE A CONCEPT IN TEXAS CITY TO COME HERE AND ALSO JUST TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A MOBILE VENDOR ABILITIES. MY BIGGEST CONCERN AND THE REASON THIS HASN'T MOVED FORWARD QUICKER IS THAT EACH LOCATION THAT A TRUCK IS PERMANENT TO, YOU HAVE TO PAY $500. IF THAT TRUCK WANTS TO MOVE FROM, SAY, THEIR FOOD PARK TO A DIFFERENT FOOD TRUCK PART, YOU HAVE TO PAY $500 FOR EACH LOCATION AND THAT'S JUST A BURDEN THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN'T AFFORD AND IT'S REALLY CUMBERSOME TO THEM. WHAT I'M HOPING THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER TODAY IS THAT THERE BE A BLANKET PERMIT FEE FOR THE WHOLE CITY AND THAT THE TRUCKS CAN MOVE BETWEEN THOSE PRIVATE PROPERTIES FREELY AND STILL HOLD [00:10:02] THE SAME REGULATIONS THROUGH THE GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT AND THEY STILL CARRY THEIR INSURANCE WHICH KEEPS EVERYBODY SAFE. BECAUSE BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS, YOU CAN'T GET INSURED UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR COMMISSARY KITCHENS, YOU CAN'T GET INSURED FOR THOSE THINGS AND THE GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT ALREADY REQUIRES SO MUCH OF THESE VENDORS THAT YOU CAN GUARANTEE THAT WHAT THEY'RE SERVING IS GOING TO BE A SAFE PRODUCT. I THINK THAT HAVING TO BE STATIONARY AT ONE SPOT REALLY LIMITS THE ABILITIES OF THESE OWNERS FROM BEING ABLE TO MAKE MORE INCOME, WHICH THEN MAKES THEM BETTER PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A BRICK-AND-MORTAR LOCATION DOESN'T MEAN THAT FOOD TRUCKS AREN'T A VALUABLE ASSET. THEY PROVIDE THINGS THAT A BRICK-AND-MORTAR LOCATION CAN'T NECESSARILY PROVIDE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE SHOES, IF YOU'RE IN YOUR BATHING SUIT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WALK INTO A RESTAURANT, BUT YOU CAN WALK UP TO A FOOD TRUCK JUST AS EASY. FINDING THESE LOCATIONS FOR THE TRUCKS TO BE ABLE TO SELL AND SERVE THEIR PUBLIC CLIENTS AND ALSO ALL OF THE TOURISTS THAT ARE ON THE ISLAND BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO GET IN ANYWHERE AND EAT AND THAT'S NOT THE FAULT OF ANY RESTAURANT OR ANYBODY. IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF OUR GAME RIGHT NOW. BEING ABLE TO HAVE THOSE EXTRA OPTIONS WHERE TOURISTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EAT SOMEWHERE UNIQUE AND FUN AND COOKED BY FOOD BY PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY GENUINELY LOVE GALVESTON, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO SIT IN A LOCATION WITH THEIR KIDS, OR WITH THEIR FAMILIES. I THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYBODY HERE AND SO JUST FINDING A WAY TO MAKE IT EASIER ON THE TRUCKS TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE FLUID THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND AND APPEASING ALL OF OUR CURRENT RESTAURANTS. I THINK THERE'S A NICE HAPPY GROUND IN THE MIDDLE. THAT'S MY PIECE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. COME UP PLEASE REALLY DON'T BE SHY. OKAY, GOOD. WE DON'T BITE, YOU CAN SEE WE DON'T BITE. >> I SEE. [LAUGHTER] >> I'VE GOT TO SAY, BEST CAJUN ON THE ISLAND. >> YEAH. OKAY. >> I AM CHEF Q [INAUDIBLE] AND I'M THE OWNER OF SOUTHERN TASTE WHICH IS A [INAUDIBLE] TRUCK AND WE ARE AT THE GALVESTON FOOD TRUCK PARK IN WHICH CLAIRE AND CHRIS HERE. OUR CONCERN, AND I THINK MARY TOUCHED A LOT OF IT AND CHRIS HIT THE NAIL ON THE HAMMER. AS A OPERATING FOOD TRUCK THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE LONG PERMITTING PROCESS OF HAVING TO TURN IN PICTURES. I'VE BEEN BOARDED, I'VE BEEN INSPECTED, I'VE EVEN HAD MARSHALS COME OUT TO SHUT US DOWN BECAUSE MAYBE SOMEBODY CALLED AND SAID WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR PROPER PAPERWORK. MY CONCERN IS AFTER YOU'VE SPENT THE $500 AND AFTER YOU CONTINUOUSLY, BECAUSE IT'S A LONG PROCESS TO GET YOUR HEALTH PERMIT, THAT'S ALL SORRY ANYWAY, THERE'S A LONG PROCESS TO GET THE HEALTH PERMIT SO WE'RE INSPECTED EVERY TWO WEEKS. I THINK WE'RE INSPECTED MORE THAN ANY OTHER RESTAURANT, ANY OTHER FOOD TRUCK ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT SERVES FOOD ON THE ISLAND. EVERY TIME THEY COME WE ARE TOP-NOTCH, WE'VE NEVER FAILED, WE'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE, BUT TO NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE BETWEEN DIFFERENT PLACES ON THE ISLAND IS AN ISSUE. AFTER WE SPEND THE $500 AND THE $75 EVERY TWO WEEKS AND THEN WE PAY OUR PORTION TO THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE PARK BECAUSE YOU PAY EVERYWHERE YOU GO, PAY FOR OUR WATER AND OUR LIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE NEED A BREAK SOMEWHERE. IF WE PAY THE $500 ANNUALLY, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MANEUVER THROUGHOUT THE CITY ANYWHERE THE FOOD TRUCKS ARE ALLOWED TO GO. NOT ONLY JUST THAT, I'M NOT REALLY SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER FEE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT ONCE WE PAY THE $500, THE HEALTH, I THINK YOU GUYS KIND OF SHOULD BE IN TUNE WITH ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE IN THE CITY AND IN OTHER CITIES THAT I HAVE PERMITS IN, ONCE I PAY THEIR FEE, THAT'S IT. IT INCLUDES THE HEALTH AND IT INCLUDES THE CITY AS WELL. SO MY CONCERN IS THAT ONCE WE CAN GET ON ONE TRACK WITH YOU GUYS AND GET ABLE TO TRANSFER AND GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND THEN SET UP HERE AND NOT BE PENALIZED, THAT THOSE TRUCKS THAT ARE COMING ON THE ISLAND, I DO AGREE IF THEY ARE ILLEGAL, THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL. [NOISE] THERE WAS A LOT OF PAPERWORK WE HAD TO SUBMIT. IT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED. A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. THE ONLY PLACE I HAD TO DO THAT FOR WAS NASA. IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT. IT WAS A TWO-WEEK SETUP PROCESS BEFORE WE EVEN WERE ABLE TO DRIVE ON THE ISLAND AND COME AND SIT AND THEN TO FIND OUT THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAME AND DIDN'T PAY ANYTHING. IT'S REALLY BAD, IT'S TRAGIC FOR US. I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU GUYS CONSIDER FIGURING OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN MANEUVER ON THE ISLAND AFTER WE PAY OUR $500 FEE AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET YOU GUYS ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD WITH THE OTHER PARTNER AS WELL. THANKS. >> OKAY. DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE. I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT, [00:15:01] WHO ELSE? [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] >> I DON'T WANT TO CLOSE THIS SHOW. HI, MY NAME IS JOSEPH SPENCER. I AM FAIRLY NEW TO THE ISLAND, BEEN HERE THREE YEARS AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO LAUNCH A FOOD TRUCK PARK OVER HERE AT 25TH AND MARKET OR 25TH AND POST OFFICE SIDE. I REALLY JUST WANT TO KIND OF REPEAT WHAT'S BEEN SAID ON A COUPLE. ONE IS THE IDEA OF THE PORTABILITY OF THE FOOD TRUCKS. ONCE THEY GET IN, ONCE THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND I'M INCLINED TO AGREE WITH ANOTHER FOOD TRUCK OPERATOR NOW THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND BY THE WAY, YOU GUYS WERE AWESOME ABOUT THAT FOR PEOPLE I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH. THANK YOU. BUT ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO SET UP A FOOD TRUCK PARK, SEEING FOOD TRUCKS PARKED DOWN HERE, ANYWHERE, THAT THERE HAPPENS TO BE ENOUGH SPACE FOR THEM TO PARK IS NOT AN INSULT, BUT IT JUST WHAT IT DOES IS IT BASICALLY IT LAUGHS IN YOUR FACE AS WELL AS OURS. IT MAKES OUR JOB A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO HAVE ONE RUN PROFITABLY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IT BECAUSE THAT'S OUR GOAL AND THEN THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS IT BASICALLY, WHAT IT DOES IS IT MAKES A LAUGHING STOCK, IF YOU WILL, THE WHOLE PROCESS. THAT'S IT FOR ME. >> THANK YOU. >> HOPE IT MAKES YOU FEEL SOMETHING IN THE MINUTES YOU AND TIM JOINED US [INAUDIBLE]. WE ARE GETTING EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE. >> MY NAME IS JORDAN COLLINS. I OWN SMOKIN J'S CURBSIDE KITCHEN AND BARBECUE. BORN AND RAISED IN GALVESTON. I'VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. MY BUSINESS STARTED HERE IN GALVESTON BUT MY BUSINESS IS CURRENTLY NOT IN GALVESTON. THE $500 FEE IS NOT BAD, BECAUSE OTHER PLACES THAT DOES CHARGE MORE. BUT AS EVERYONE ELSE SAY, IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER IF WE CAN PAY A ONETIME FEE AND A FOOD TRUCK MAP BEING PRINTED OUT SAYING WHERE FOOD TRUCKS CAN AND CANNOT GO WITHIN THE CITY OR IF THERE IS A RESTRICTED AREA AND THEY'RE HAVING SOME KIND OF EVENT OR SOMETHING, WE SUBMIT SOMETHING TO YOU GUYS TO SAY HEY, THIS IS GOING ON, THEY WANT US TO COME SERVE X AMOUNT OF GUESTS, SO YOU GUYS KEEP TRACK OF THAT. WE'RE PAYING $500 EACH TIME. THAT HURTS. A LOT OF OTHER PLACES, CITY OF HOUSTON AND STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU GO THROUGH THEIR PROCESS, YOU PAY A ONETIME FEE, THEY HAND YOU A MAP SAYING WHERE YOU CAN AND CAN'T GO. YOU SUBMIT WHERE YOUR FOOD TRUCK IS GOING TO BE. IT'S LIKE A HOME BASE, SO IF THEY NEED TO COME INSPECT YOU, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THEY KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU. BUT THEY ALSO REQUIRE YOU TO SUBMIT AT LEAST A 3-5 DAY NOTICE IF YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE LOCATION TO GO SERVE AT ANOTHER LOCATION OR IF YOU ARE GOING TO AN EVENT OR A BANK OR SOME KIND OF A HOSPITAL OR SOMETHING TO SERVE THE EMPLOYEES. A LOT OF FOOD TRUCK OWNERS HERE AT [INAUDIBLE] THEY'RE FLAKED BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN GALVESTON WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO CUSTOMER APPRECIATION AND EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION AND WANT THEIR FOOD TRUCK TO COME OUT AND SERVE, BUT WE CAN'T BECAUSE IF WE MOVE FROM WHERE WE'RE PERMITTED AT, IT'S IS A $500 FEE. BUSINESSES DON'T WANT TO PAY THE 500, WE DON'T WANT TO PAY THE 500, SO THEY END UP GOING TO ANOTHER BRICK AND MORTAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND JUST GET THEM TO CATER IT AND CALL IT A DAY. I ALSO FEEL LIKE CITY OF GALVESTON IS BIG ENOUGH TO WHERE IT CAN BENEFIT FROM FOOD TRUCKS AND BRICK AND MORTARS. THIS IS A TOURIST TOWN AND IT WOULD BE NICE, FUTURELY SPEAKING, TO SEE GALVESTON COME OUT WITH A FOOD TRUCK PARK TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT'S ALREADY HERE TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT STUFF AND BRING IN MORE REVENUE. LIKE I SAID, WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN TO GALVESTON AND I FEEL LIKE SEEING FOOD TRUCKS HERE WOULD BE AMAZING, WHETHER IT'D BE, BEACH SIDE, LAND SIDE, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. IF WE SEE THAT AND GOT A LOT OF HELP FROM THE CITY BY PROMOTING FOOD TRUCKS AS WELL, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER FOOD OPTIONS THAT ARE HERE, THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY AS WELL. THAT'S REALLY MY PIECE. I HOPE TO SEE THAT WE COULD COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER, AND MAKE GALVESTON A FOOD TRUCK FRIENDLY PLACE. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE TO SAY YOU-ALL ARE MAKING ME HUNGRY. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] I KNOW, THAT BRIBERY IS HERE. THE BRIBERY IS HERE. NO, I BOUGHT THIS. [00:20:01] >> YOU BROUGHT IT? >> NO, MARY BROUGHT THEM, I BOUGHT THEM. >> THEY WERE PURCHASED. >> THEY ARE PURCHASED, THEY ARE NOT BRIBES. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME ON UP. [BACKGROUND]. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> GOOD. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE. PATRICK, KEEP ME ON LINE UP THERE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> CAN YOU GET HER TO TURN A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN HEAR BETTER? >> SURE. >> YOU JUST WANT TO SEE MY FACE. [LAUGHTER] HI, HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MYLA AND MY HUSBAND AND I, RAISE YOUR HAND, WE RUN THE CAMILLA AND MYLA CARIBBEAN FOOD TRUCK. WE ARE LOCATED AT JOSEPH'S PATROL PARK, RIGHT ON 25TH POST-OFFICE. WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT MEETING FOR IT, BUT SINCE WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT FOOD TRUCK, I'M JUST GOING TO THROW IN AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN YOU LET ME KNOW. WE ARE THE NEWEST ONE I THINK. >> CONGRATULATIONS. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU. WE OPENED OUR FOOD TRUCK IN JANUARY, BUT WE STARTED THE PROCESS IN AUGUST. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT GAVE US A HECK OF A HARD TIME. WE BASICALLY DESIGNED NOT WE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BASICALLY DESIGNED OUR TRUCK AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE THAT WAY BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONE WORKING IN THE TRUCK AND NOW THAT WE ARE IN THE TRUCK, WE SEE THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE TRUCK. EVERY TIME WE SUBMITTED THE PLAN, IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE. WE MADE DIFFERENT CHANGES, WE DID THAT THREE TIMES AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS RIGHT AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONE IN THE TRUCK, WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED, WHAT'S EASIER FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONE RUNNING THE FACILITY, BUT THE PEOPLE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY DID GIVE US A REALLY HARD TIME. IT TOOK US FIVE MONTHS FOR THE TRUCK TO PASS THE INSPECTION AND EVERYTHING TO BE THE WAY THAT PARTICULAR INSPECTOR WANTED THE TRUCK. BASICALLY, SHE DESIGNED THE TRUCK AND I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE. I COULD GIVE YOU A NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOU NEED IT [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I GOT THAT INFORMATION. >> PLEASE. >> THE PROCESS FOR MY HUSBAND AND I WAS EXCRUCIATING TO SAY THE LEAST, BECAUSE BY THE TIME WE'D STARTED AND THEN ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT THAT WE HAD TO PAY, THEN THE $500, WHICH HAS BEEN REPEATED HERE MANY TIMES AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT, THAT WE WILL PARK IN ONE LOCATION AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THAT WE MOVE TO HIS LOCATION, TO JOSEPH SPENCER'S, AND WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $500. ON TOP OF ALL THE FEES, WHAT MONEY ARE WE MAKING TO SURVIVE WHEN OUR TRUCK IS WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY OUR BILLS AND TO PAY THE BILLS FOR THE TRUCKERS? WE'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE TRUCK. I BELIEVE THAT ALL THESE FEES AND ALL THESE RULES AND REGULATION THAT THEY HAVE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN ONCE IN CONSIDERATION TO THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BUILD A BUSINESS BECAUSE THIS IS A GOOD BUSINESS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE LESS RULES AND REGULATION OF WHERE TO PARK HERE IN THE ISLAND BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF LAND HERE ON THE ISLAND, BUT WE ARE LIMITED TO PARK IN THE ISLAND. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR PEOPLE LIKE JOSEPH THAT HE OPENED HIS FOOD TRUCK PARK AND HE GAVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PARK AND THAT'S WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO PARK AND WE ENDED UP IN A REALLY BAD LOCATION BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT WAS OPEN. IS MY TIME UP? THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL GET BACK, WE WANT TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL MAKE A NOTE THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THE COUNTY, AND WE ARE UNDER THE CITY UMBRELLA. BUT THERE CAN BE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, BUT THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. >> NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. >> WHO ELSE? [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]. SURE ADD SOMETHING, WE'VE GOT TIME AND THEN WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS. THIS IS JORDAN AGAIN. >> THE REASON WHY THE COUNTY KEEPS COMING UP [OVERLAPPING] >> JUST SO THEY CAN HEAR YOU ON THE RECORDING, PLEASE JORDAN. >> THE REASON WHY THE COUNTY KEEPS COMING UP, THIS IS THE ONLY AREA WHERE THE COUNTY AND THE CITY IS TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES. HOUSTON AND EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING IS ALL INCLUSIVE. YOU GO THROUGH THEM, YOU GET YOUR PERMIT, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. EVERYTHING IS UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE IT'S SEPARATE WHERE YOU GO TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEN YOU GOT TO GO TO THE CITY AND PAY THEIR FEE, SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO DIALOGUE. YOU GUYS THE CITY OFFICIALS DON'T SEE WHAT WE GO THROUGH AS FAR AS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO EVEN GET TO [00:25:01] YOU GUYS TO GET A PERMIT TO OPERATE IN GALVESTON. LIKE MS. MYLA SAID THEY PUT US THROUGH A SITUATION TO WHERE THE RULES IS SO VAGUE TO WHERE THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE HOW THEY WANT SOMETHING DONE. I CAN BUILD MY TRUCK TO LOOK LIKE THEIR TRUCK IDENTICAL, AND THEY WILL SAY SOMETHING NEED TO BE CHANGED AND IT'S EXACTLY THEIR WAY. [INAUDIBLE] TAKE TRUCKS UP AND BUILD IT MY WAY AND THEY SAY, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND IT WAS BUILT BY THE SAME PERSON WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT, THE EXACT SAME WAY. WHEN WE GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS AND THEN COME HERE, IF I GO GET THE BAD END OF THE STICK, BECAUSE THE CITY HAS THEIR OWN RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO GET IN AND LIKE SHE SAID THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLACES IN GALVESTON TO PARK BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT'S EITHER A BAD LOCATION OR WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE NOTHING IS REALLY OUT THERE FOR YOU TO KNOW. THAT'S WHY YOU KEEP HEARING THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT'S A LONG PROCESS WITH THEM, GOING BACK AND FORTH. LIKE SHE SAID, THEY ENDED UP IN A SITUATION WHERE THE COUNTY DESIGNED THEIR TRUCK. THEY DIDN'T DESIGN IT, THE COUNTY DID AND IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE THAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF US. HAPPENS TO ALL OF US. THAT'S FRUSTRATING. >> THANK YOU. >> I DO HAVE SOMETHING SO TO SAY. [LAUGHTER] >> I'M SHOCKED. [LAUGHTER] >> I'M THE BETTER HALF OF THIS ONE. WE OWN THE FOOD TRUCK PARK. HI, HOW ARE YOU? ANYWAY, WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS, YOU GUYS WILL AGREE, GALVESTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE GALVESTON CITY PERMITTING PROCESS. WE'VE HAD THIS PLACE FOR A YEAR. DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD TO HAVE PERMITS, SO FOR FOUR YEARS, WE WERE BRINGING TRUCKS OUT TO THE WEST END WHERE WE HAVE NO FOOD. I WILL TELL YOU, PEOPLE IN HOUSTON DO NO WANT TO COME HERE. THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE CITY, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH GALVESTON COUNTY. IT IS HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH. IT'S NOT JUST THE MONEY, IT'S THE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND LIKE JORDAN SAID, IF YOU SAW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH TRAILERS AND THINGS, YOU JUST WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT. QUANDA IS RIGHT, EVERY TWO WEEKS, THEY COME AND CHECK. IF YOU PEOPLE DO NOT MAKE THESE ONES THAT COME HERE ILLEGALLY, TRICKY LIKE TRUCK CAME. THERE'S A TRUCK RIGHT DOWN BEHIND THE COURTHOUSE THAT'S OPERATING ILLEGALLY THAT THE COURTHOUSE BROUGHT OUT. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMITS, MAYBE ANY. THEY'RE NOT LOOKED AT. THEY'RE SERVING SEAFOOD, CHICKEN, ANYTHING. NO PERMITS, NO CITY, AND NO HEALTH. IT'S A DANGER TO THE CITIZENS HERE, AND THEY JUST COME AND GO. THE PEOPLE, LIKE CHRIS SAID OR WHOEVER, YOU'VE GOT TO GET TO THE SITES. WE HAVE TO DO THE ELECTRIC POLE. BEFORE DAVID EWELL MADE US GET A PERMIT, WE HAD TO PAY $1,000 FOR OUR CONCESSION PERMIT IN ORDER TO REQUEST A PERMIT FOR OUR ELECTRICIAN TO PUT IT IN A $3,500 TEA POLE, AND THAT'S HOW WE STARTED OUT WITH NO TRUCKS AND ALL THE REGULATIONS. THIS MAN HAS BEEN A GOD-SENT TO US. OF EVERYBODY IN THE CITY, WE'VE EVER DEALT WITH, DANIEL IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN HELPFUL, I PROMISE YOU. >> HEY DANIEL. [APPLAUSE]. >> TWILLER AT THE COUNTY IS OUR OTHER PERSON. THESE TWO ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE. YOU HAD MENTIONED THEY DON'T WORK TOGETHER? THEY DON'T WORK TOGETHER. EXCUSE ME. IT'S NOT HIM, IT'S THE COUNTY. THEY HAND OUT A TEMPORARY PERMIT. WHEN THEY DO HAND OUT A TEMPORARY PERMIT, THEY COME HERE, AND THEY DON'T GET THE CITY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO. HE REQUIRES IT, BUT THEY DON'T REQUIRE IT AND UNTIL THEY CHANGE THAT. DO YOU KNOW WHEN I SEND E-MAILS OUT, I SEND IT TO THE CEO AND EVERYBODY DOWN AT THE COUNTY? LAST YEAR, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT I LEFT IS CRAIG. I'VE SENT E-MAILS TO EVERYBODY AND TRY TO GET THIS DONE. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT FINALLY, THIS IS BEING LOOKED AT AGAIN. BUT I THINK EVERY PLACE A TRUCK GOES, MR. JORDAN HAS SAID THAT, IF YOU'RE MAKING A PAYOUT, THERE SHOULD BE A TO GO AND NOT TO GO. THEY'RE GO TO CONDOS. THEY'RE GOING TO RESIDENCES. POINTE WEST RIGHT NOW, HAS A TRUCK THAT COMES OUT EVERY MONDAY AND PARKS BY THE BAY POOL, ILLEGAL. FOOD TRUCK [NOISE] PARKS HAVE PLACES, ILLEGAL. NO TEA POLES, NO FOOD TRUCKS. IT JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ALL OF US PAY OUT THE KAZOO AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE DO WITH OUR TRUCKS, MAKE IT SAFE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WE HAVE NO FOOD ON THE WEST END EXCEPT FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND STUFF THAT HAS A TRAILER. THERE'S JUST NOTHING. OKAY, THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU-ALL FOR FOLLOWING THE RULES. I LOVE A GOOD RULE, AND I LOVE RULE FOLLOWERS SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING RULE FOLLOWERS. WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? [00:30:03] >> I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. >> COME ON UP SO WE CAN- >> I'M SPEAKING. [LAUGHTER] >> WE SHOULD HAVE THE LADY WHO SPOKE TELL US HER NAME. >> OH, YES. THAT WAS CLAIRE DOWNING. >> OKAY. >> MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE]. THIS IS NOT EVEN FIVE PERCENT OF THE TRUCK THAT WE GOT HERE IN GALVESTON. IT'S NOT EVEN FIVE PERCENT. >> YOU'VE GOT TO SPEAK UP MAN. [LAUGHTER] >> SPEAK SO THE MICROPHONE CAN HEAR YOU. >> THIS IS NOT EVEN [NOISE] FIVE PERCENT OF THE TRUCK THAT WE GOT HERE IN GALVESTON. WE MAY THINK LIKE 90 PERCENT OF THE TRUCKS THAT WE GOT IN HERE. I TAKE OVER THE JOB TO KNOW ALL THE OWNERS OF THE FOOD TRUCK THAT WE GOT HERE. LIKE HE SAID, HE'S ASHAMED THAT WE HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY WHEN ALL OF THEM OUT THERE DOESN'T [INAUDIBLE] PAY FOR IT, AND THEY'RE STILL STATIONED SOMEWHERE WORKING. NOW THAT I WANT TO THROW NOBODY OUT, BUT WE SHOULD ALL BE EQUAL. IF WE HAVE TO PAY $500 FOR THE STICKER, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL PAY $500 FOR THE STICKER. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? [LAUGHTER] >> OF COURSE. >> SURE, COME ON UP. >> COULD YOU TAKE 30 SECONDS? I'M GOING TO TAKE THE OTHER 20. [LAUGHTER]. >> THE REASON WE'RE COMPLAINING OVER THE $500 IS BECAUSE US PERSONALLY, LIKE HE SAY, HE KNOWS ALL THE GUYS FROM THE FOOD TRUCK THAT THEY PARK BASICALLY ON BROADWAY. IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A TACO TRUCK, WE HAVE A LATIN CARIBBEAN TRUCK. I THINK WE HAVE BECOME A TARGET. WE'RE UNDER A MICROSCOPE FOR THE COUNTY OR THE CITY. EVERY TIME WE SNEEZE, WE'VE GOT TO PAY A FINE, AND THEN WE SEE ALL THOSE TRUCKS, AND WE PERSONALLY GO AND EAT AT THEIR PLACES, AND THEY'RE MESSING A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR IT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR, THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY PAYING SOMETHING AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING ANYTHING, AND THEY STILL MAKING MONEY. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'RE POCKETING ALL THE MONEY, AND I'M NOT HERE TO BE SHAMING ANYONE, BUT THEY'RE POCKETING THEIR MONEY. IN THE MEANTIME, THE MONEY THAT WE'RE MAKING, WE HAVE TO PAY UP TO A FINE, TO A FEE, TO THIS, TO THAT. I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE SOME OF THEM, THIS IS WHAT WE WERE TOLD, THEY OPEN AT NIGHTTIME. THERE'S NO INSPECTOR AT NIGHTTIME. THAT'S A QUESTION. NOBODY EXPECTS ANYBODY ON NIGHTTIME BECAUSE ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE OUR SCHEDULE TO A NIGHTTIME, SO WE COULD DO ILLEGAL [LAUGHTER] STUFF IF THAT'S THE CASE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE. WE'RE HERE DOING THINGS BY THE BOOK BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE ARE. BUT IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THEY KEEP TELLING US WE'RE HERE IN NIGHTTIME, NO ONE BOTHERS US. I'M LIKE, "REALLY?" IT'S THE CITY. EVERYONE SHOULD BE WATCHING EVERY FOOD TRUCK IN THE CITY, NOT JUST OUR FOOD TRUCK, EVERY FOOD TRUCK IN THE CITY AND SEE THAT THEY ARE UNDER THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS AS WE ARE. WHENEVER WE WANTED TO MOVE OVER HERE, THE WHOLE CITY ALREADY KNEW, AND I THINK, DAN, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, HE CAME, I DON'T KNOW WHO TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE MOVING, AND HE REMINDED US THAT WE NEEDED TO PAY ANOTHER 500. I'M LIKE, "OH MY GOD, WE JUST MOVED HERE AND NOW WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $500." [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] >> DANIEL BURIED THE GOOD NEWS. [LAUGHTER] >> THEN HE SENT ME AN E-MAIL, HE SAYS AFTER 60 DAYS I'M LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT, I DIDN'T READ THE 60-DAY PART, ALL I READ WAS ANNUALLY. I DIDN'T READ THE 60-DAY PART. WHILE WE ALREADY PAID $1,000 SINCE JANUARY TO NOW IN THE ROUND STEAK OR THE, WHAT IS IT CALLED? >> WHO DO YOU PAY YOUR SALES TAX TO? >> TO THE CONTROLLER. >> STATE CONTROLLER. >> CITY OF GALVESTON. >> NO, STATE CONTROLLER. >> STATE CONTROLLER. [BACKGROUND] >> THEN IT GOES TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON? >> YES. >> YES. >> IT'S A CODE YOU PUT IN FOR THE CITIES THAT YOU'RE WORKING IN. >> GUESS WHO THE ILLEGAL TRUCKS PAY TO, NOT CITY OF GALVESTON. OKAY. >> WHILE WE ALREADY PAID $1,000, LIKE I SAID, SINCE JANUARY TILL NOW, TWO TIMES THE $500, SOME OF THEM HAS PAID THIS AMOUNT, ZERO. THAT HURTS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES BEFORE WE GET INTO QUESTIONS? >> THREE MINUTES LEFT? [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] >> DO WE HAVE ANY ONLINE PEOPLE? >> DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ONLINE WITH THEIR HAND RAISED, PATRICK? >> ANYBODY ON ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, [00:35:01] PLEASE USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FUNCTION. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. >> HELLO? >> HELLO. >> HEY, IT'S JOE ROGER HERE FROM [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTIES. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY, MR. ROGER? >> WE HAVE SAENGERFEST PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN GALVESTON, AND WE DON'T HAVE FOOD TRUCKS BUT WE HAVE CONCESSION AGREEMENTS WITH DIFFERENT VENDORS. WE HAVE ABOUT 7-8 SPOTS IN THE PARK. I THINK THAT WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THESE COORDINATES TOGETHER, SOME FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, WE REALLY FOCUSED ON FOOD TRUCKS, AND WE DIDN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT SMALLER VENDORS. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADJUST A FEW OF THE FEES. I THINK THE PARK FEE SHOULD BE CUT IN HALF AND THE VENDOR FEE SHOULD BE CUT IN HALF. WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE IT NOT BE A DECEMBER 31ST TO JANUARY 1ST. IT SHOULD BE WHENEVER THEY'RE READY TO START, THAT'S WHEN THEIR YEAR SHOULD START, SO THAT THEY AREN'T COMING IN IN AUGUST, HAVING TO PAY 1,000 OR $500 AND HAVING TO PAY IT AGAIN [INAUDIBLE] THOSE ARE JUST THE TWO COMMENTS THAT I HAVE. >> THANK YOU. WERE YOU ON THE COMMITTEE THAT REVAMPED THESE IN 2015? >> YEAH. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANKS FOR CALLING IN. ANY OTHERS, PATRICK? >> ANYBODY ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FUNCTION. >> NO OTHER? >> I'VE SEEN NONE. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. NOW COMMISSIONERS, I KNOW I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO START. RUSTY, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR JOHN PAUL, YOU-ALL GOING TO HAVE TO JUST [OVERLAPPING]- >> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM START? >> -JUST WAVE. WELL, WHO WANTS TO START. LET THEM START. >> RUSTY, JOHN PAUL YOU-ALL WANT TO START? NO FOR JOHN PAUL. RUSTY? YES, SIR, COMMISSIONER WAILER. >> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? >> YES, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT. WE OWNED A FOOD TRUCK FOR A WHILE AND WE OPERATED OVER [INAUDIBLE], SO I KNOW HOW MUCH HARD WORK IT IS. GET ALL THE PERMITTING. MOVE YOUR TRUCK AROUND AND NOBODY'S GETTING RICH OFFERING THE BIG JOB. I THINK JOE, HAD A GREAT COMMENT. I KNOW ONE THING THAT WHEN WE WERE PERMITTING OUR STUFF IS THAT GALVESTON IS AN ANNUAL FEED. IT'S ON A CALENDAR YEAR, SO I THINK CHANGING THAT TO WHERE IF I'VE SHOPPED TODAY TO GET MY LICENSE TODAY, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START. I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED WHERE WE HAVE ESPECIALLY ALONG BROADWAY. I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON ANYBODY HERE. WE GOT TO THROW SOME IDEAS OUT THERE JUST SO WE CAN GET SOMETHING BACK. BUT WHEN WE HAVE TRUCKS AND I'M JUST PICKING BROADWAY [INAUDIBLE], SO NOBODY GET OFFENDED, PLEASE. BUT THERE ARE SOME TRUCKERS THERE AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE, BUT THEY'VE SET UP SHOP THERE. THERE ARE TRUCKERS THERE, IT'S THERE ALL THE TIME. THEY'VE GOT TABLES THERE, THEY'VE GOT UMBRELLAS THERE. MAYBE THEY ARE LICENSED FOOD TRUCK PARKS, HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW. I KNOW THAT FOR BIG COUNTY, WHAT THEY'LL MAKE US DO IS WE COULD GO PUT OUR FOOD TRUCKS SOMEWHERE, BUT WE COULDN'T HAVE ANY TABLE, SO IT WAS ONLY A FOOD TRUCK SERVICE THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO WALK-UP TRAFFIC. THAT ALSO GIVES THE BRICK AND MOTOR GUYS A LITTLE PROTECTION, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO REALLY KEEP THOSE GUYS IN MIND TOO. THEY HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY PAY TAXES, THEY HIRE PEOPLE. THEY MOST LIKELY ARE PAYING ALL OF THEIR SALES TAX, BECAUSE YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS IS MOSTLY CASH. WE CAN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. I THINK WE GOT TO KEEP THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR GUYS IN MIND HERE AS WELL. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN WE HAVE THESE INDIVIDUAL LOTS WHERE WE HAVE A SINGLE FOOD TRUCK WHERE HE'S GOT ALL THIS STUFF SET UP. I KNOW THE THING THAT RICKY MADE US DO WAS ON EVERY WEEK, WE HAD TO GO TO A COMMISSARY. WE COULDN'T JUST PARK OUR TRUCK AND JUST LEAVE IT THERE. THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'VE SAID THAT WASN'T CHANGED. [00:40:02] WHEN WE HAVE OUR SLIDE PRESENTATION, THERE WAS SOME MENTION ABOUT ZONING AND WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT STEP INTO CONSIDERATION TOO. I KNOW I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PARK OUT ON THE WEST END. YEAH. SHE'S RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER. RIGHT NEXT TO SOME HOUSES, I'M SURE THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY. THERE'S NO PARKING LOT THERE. THE PARKING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE ON A SUMMER WEEKEND IS HORRIBLE. >> THERE IS A PARKING LOT. TWO. >> THERE'S TWO. >> TWO PARKING LOTS. >> LOOK, MA'AM, THERE'S NOT A PARKING LOT. >> OKAY. WELL, RUSTY, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANY OF THESE PEOPLE? SPECIFIC QUESTION FOR ANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TODAY? >> YOU KNOW WHAT, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SHOWING UP. I MEAN, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY MORE OR LESS INCLUDING LED OUT, BUT THAT'S STILL INTERESTING AND SO I THINK THEIR COMMENTS ARE SPOT ON. WE NEED TO INCLUDE THEM IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT WE DO NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I'M JUST DONE WITH THIS OUT THERE. IT'S JUST A WORKSHOP. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE PROTECT OUR BRICK-AND-MOTOR GUYS. [NOISE] I'M ACTUALLY A PROPONENT OF THE FOOD TRUCK PARK DEAL. IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK HERE, YOU GOT TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK PARK, AND I THINK WE NEED TO HELP FOOD TRUCK PARK OPERATORS BECOME BETTER. I THINK WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE GUYS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET THE FEE STRUCTURE. HELPS SOMETHING. I'M JUST THROWING MY IDEAS OUT THERE FOR YOU GUYS TO BAFFLE SINCE I WENT FIRST. >> [LAUGHTER] OKAY. THANKS. >> BACK AT YOU. >> THANKS, COMMISSIONER WALLA. WE APPRECIATE THAT. JOHN PAUL, UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO SAY. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? I'M GOING TO MOVE TO SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT I'LL CALL ON YOU FIRST. YEAH. I'LL JUST BE BRIEF. I GO ON WITH WHAT RUSTY ON THE FOOD PARK CONCEPT. WHEN I FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE FOOD TRUCK ISSUE AND BRINGING IN ALL OF THIS BACK UP FOR REVIEW, THE FOOD TRUCK PARK WAS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SEE AROUND TOWN. I'D MUCH RATHER SEE A FOOD TRUCK PARK THAN JUST THIS FOOD TRUCK SCATTERED ALL OVER TOWN. SOME ARE JUST IN THE PARKING LOTS OF OTHER BUSINESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. TO DO THAT, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FEES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOOD PARK AND MAKE IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS FOOD PARK AND FOR THE FOOD TRUCK. THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE FOOD PARK INSTEAD OF JUST ANY PARKING LOT AROUND TOWN, SO I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT. ROUGHLY ABOUT THE POINT OF THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORES, I AGREE WITH THAT. THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORES ARE RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE MADE A SIZABLE INVESTMENT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO DEFINITELY PROTECT THAT. BUT LOOKING AROUND TOWN, THE NUMBER OF FOOD TRUCKS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY, [NOISE] YOU THINK THAT'S EVEN PUTTING A DENT IN THE RESTAURATEURS THAT ARE OUT THERE. I'M NOT AS CONCERNED WITH THAT, BUT I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT POINT, SO THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING IF THE FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS JUST TAKES OFF AND EXPLODES, AND WE SEE THEM TAKE INDEED WITH OUR RESTAURANTS, THEN MAYBE THAT'S WHAT WE'D LOOK AT. BUT I'M NOT AS CONCERNED WITH THAT RIGHT NOW. BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE FOOD TRUCKS TO GO TO THESE PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST POPPING UP IN A PARKING LOT THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER LISTOWSKI. CAROL, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> I JUST HAVE A CLARIFICATION QUESTION. CHEF QUANTA, IS THIS CORRECT IN MY INTERPRETATION WHICH YOU SAID, YOU PAY A $75 FEE EVERY TWO WEEKS FOR A HEALTH INSPECTION? >> YES, MA'AM. >> THAT IS FOR ALL FOOD TRUCKS THAT ARE OPERATING. >> NO. THAT IS A TEMPORARY PERMIT. WHEN YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT HOW TO GET A TEMPORARY PERMIT FROM CITY, THEY HAVE THE REGULATIONS, BUT THEY HAVE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO. THAT'S WHY THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE INSIDE OF THEIR TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES, BUT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN THERE IS NOT THE SAME. IT'S DIFFERENT. IT'S EXPLAINED DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD, THEY WANT TO SEE CERTAIN RAGS, THEY WANT TO SEE THINGS, SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR TRUCK AND RECONFIGURE IT, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING. I'VE BEEN GOING HERE HAVING TO PAY MY BUILDER AGAIN TO TAKE OFF THINGS THAT [00:45:04] I'VE ALREADY PAID FOR BECAUSE IT'S REGULATED BY THE CITY AND THE STATE IN VARIOUS COUNTIES. BEFORE I'D NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THESE THINGS. BUT I'M HAVING TO TAKE IT OUT, REBUILD AND PUT IT BACK IN A DIFFERENT WAY. IT'S THE SAME THING, SO I HAVE A THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK WITH TWO SIDES, BUT I HAVE TO GET IT REDONE TO WHERE IT HAS SOME TYPE OF TOWERS IN IT. >> THE DRAIN RACK. THE PROPER DRAIN RACK IN IT, BUT I HAVE A HAND-WASHING SINK. I MEAN, WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO OUR BUSINESSES. GOING IN AND MAKE MINOR CHANGES, I'M COOL WITH THAT, BUT TO GO IN AND REBUILD. THE INCOME BACK OUT AND GET SOMEONE TO REWRITE A PLAN FOR MY TRUCK THAT I ALREADY HAVE. >> WHAT'S THE $75? >> THE $75 DOLLARS IS A TEMPORARY FEE FOR THEM TO COME OUT AND INSPECT YOU EVERY TWO WEEKS, SO INSTEAD OF US PAYING THE 350 FOR A YEAR PERMIT. IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THAT PERMIT, THAT'S WHY THEY WERE SAYING THEY HAD TO PAY FEES. EVERY TIME THEY BOARD YOU AND YOU DON'T PASS, YOU HAVE TO PAY A SMALL FEE AGAIN. >> RIGHT. THAT'S HER CHOICE. >> OKAY. >> THAT'S MY CHOICE FOR NOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY REQUIRE ME TO HAVE ON THE TRUCK. YES. THAT'S WHY SHE'S ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO WORK WITH THEM IN ORDER FOR US TO PAY A FEE. I DON'T MIND THEM BOARDING ME BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING TO HAPPEN. I'M PASSING EVERY SINGLE TIME. WE'VE BEEN THERE SINCE THEY OPENED THEIR PARK AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN SHUT DOWN, NOT ONE TIME. >> THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO- >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> -FOR THE COUNTY. >> I UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY ISSUE AND THE THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. I'M SAYING YOU GUYS COULD WORK TOGETHER. ANOTHER THING TOO, BECAUSE RUSTY HIT ON A POINT. RUSTY USED TO OWN THE HOUSE AT RV LOCATION THERE. THIS IS THE SAME RUSTY. >> YEAH. >> I WORKED AT HIS PARK ONCE BEFORE. AS A TRUCK, THEY DIDN'T HAVE IN PAPERWORK, AND SO WHEN I WENT THERE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS REQUIRED, BUT I SURELY WAS CAUGHT UP TO DATE REALLY QUICKLY ON WHAT WAS NEEDED AND WHAT I NEEDED TO HAVE. EVEN AS THESE VENDORS ARE HAVING THINGS DONE OUT HERE, THEY DON'T KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE A MANDATE OR SOMETHING. SOME INFORMATION SENT OUT TO THESE PLACES BECAUSE FOOD TRUCKS HAVE SPENT THEIR MONEY ON PRODUCT, EMPLOYEES, TIME AND MAY COME OUT AND THEN THEY'RE TURNED AROUND. NOT SPEAKING FOR THEM, BUT SPEAKING IF YOU KNEW WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, YOU WOULD DO THAT. AS FAR AS TAKING CASH OR CREDIT, WE TAKE A LOT OF CREDIT. I COULDN'T BE IN BUSINESS IF I DIDN'T TAKE CREDIT. I ACTUALLY TAKE MORE CREDIT THAN CASH, AND I'LL PAY GOOD TAXES ON THAT. GOOD SALE'S SAFE. LET ME KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO SALE SAFE, THEY'RE GOING TO COME AND GET THAT BUSINESS. [INAUDIBLE] >> PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE THEIR PACKING FEE. [OVERLAPPING] TWO, THREE PERCENT. >> WE'RE PLAYING OUR PART AND WE'RE DOING OUR PART AND WE'RE GIVING BACK. WE LEAVE A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT WHEN WE LEAVE. WE PULL OUT A TRUCK OUT EVERY WEEK AND CLAIRE AND CHRIS ARE WITNESSES TO THAT. WE TAKE OUR TRUCK BACK TO HOUSTON TO CLEAN IT, TO POLISH IT, TO GO BACK TO THE COMMISSARY TO COOK OUR PRODUCTS AND THEN WE COME BACK AND WE STILL HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BEFORE BY THE MARSHALS. THAT WAS A JOKE. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN CALLED ON SEVERAL TIMES BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME OUT AND INSPECTED, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. WE'RE NOT ILLEGAL. WE'VE BEEN TOLD, "YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PERMIT." YES WE DO LET ME GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS AND LET ME SEND YOU A COPY OF IT. WE FOLLOW THE RULES, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR IT TO BE FAIR. >>THANK YOU. I HAVE THAT SAME THING CIRCLED [NOISE] >> DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? >> NOT RIGHT NOW. IT'LL PROBABLY COME UP AS I'M LOOKING THROUGH MY NOTES. >> OKAY. JORDAN, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. WOULD YOU MIND ANSWERING, PLEASE, SIR? YOU SAID THAT AT CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU OPERATE YOUR TRUCK NOW IN CITY OF HOUSTON? >> I'M PERMITTED FOR HOUSTON, WEBSTER, AND LEAGUE CITY CURRENTLY. I HAVEN'T BEEN OPEN SINCE MARCH BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED, BUT THAT'S WHERE I MAINLY OPERATE IS LEAGUE CITY, WEBSTER [OVERLAPPING] >> YOUR HEALTH PERMIT IS ISSUED BY HARRIS COUNTY? >> HARRIS COUNTY FOR HOUSTON, WELL HARRIS COUNTY AND CITY OF HOUSTON IS TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES. CITY OF HOUSTON HAS THEIRS AND HARRIS COUNTY GOT THEIRS. I'M CITY OF HOUSTON. ANYTHING IN THE ALMEDA CLOSER TO THE GALLERIA AREA, I'M PERMITTED TO GO. ANYTHING PAST GALLERIA, I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY. LEAGUE CITY, OF COURSE, GO TO GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEN I PAID THERE, CITY FEE WHICH WAS $85 AND THEIR PERMIT IS YEAR TODAY. IT DOESN'T GO YEAR IN. I GOT MY PERMIT WITH THEM IN MARCH OF 2020 AND EXPIRES MARCH 2021. >> I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMEBODY MENTION THAT HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS ALL TOGETHER. [OVERLAPPING] >> WHEN WE SAY THEY ARE TOGETHER. [OVERLAPPING] [00:50:01] >> YOU JUST PAID ONE FEE FOR BOTH? >> RIGHT. YOU PAY ONE FEE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING IS ALL INCLUSIVE. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THEY GIVE YOU A 26 PAGE PARKING. IT SAVES YOU FROM STEP ONE TO STEP 100 AND SOMETHING WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE BEFORE YOU COME BACK AND SEE US. WHEN THEY COME TO INSPECT YOU, THEY FOLLOW THAT PACKAGE FROM FRONT TO BACK. ONCE YOU GO THROUGH THAT, YOU PAY THE $1,300 AND YOU'RE GOOD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON [BACKGROUND] AND THEY GIVE YOU A MAP OF WHERE THEY CUT OFF AT. BUT IT'S ONE [OVERLAPPING] >> IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA YOU NEED TO DO HARRIS COUNTY. >> YOU NEED TO DO HARRIS. [OVERLAPPING]. >> BUT THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL FEE. >> NO, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL FEE IF YOU GO TO HARRIS. >> OKAY. >> HARRIS GOT THEIR OWN CITIES AND STUFF THAT THEY COVER. BUT THE THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS THAT ONCE YOU PAY THAT $1,300, YOU'RE FREE TO GO WHERE EVER IN THAT FOOD TRUCK GREEN ZONE. BUT IF YOU WOULD NEED TO GO OPERATE, LET'S SAY ONE OF THE PLANTS THEY WANT TO BRING YOU OUT FOR LUNCHTIME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY JUST ASK THAT YOU GIVE A WRITTEN NOTICE SAYING THAT CITY CONTACT WOULD LIKE FOR US TO COME TO THIS PLANT TO FEED X AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES FROM THIS TIME TO THIS TIME. THAT'S JUST IN CASE IF THEY NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT, NEED TO INSPECT YOU WHENEVER THEY KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU ON THAT SAID DAY. >> I HAD QUESTION [OVERLAPPING] >> SORRY GO AHEAD. >> LEAGUE CITY, YOU SAID YOU PAID $85 PLUS THIS WHATEVER FEE YOU WOULD PAY TO GALVESTON COUNTY. >> RIGHT. >> CITY OF HOUSTON IS 1,300 [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S 1,300. >> THAT INCLUDES CITY AND COUNTY. >> [OVERLAPPING] IN THAT 1,300 IS YOUR FIRE MARSHALS THAT ARE GOING TO CHECKOUT YOUR FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, THE INSPECTOR FEES, THE CITY PERMITTING FEES, ALL THAT IS TIED INTO THAT ONE THING. >> I MISPOKE, IT'S NOT COUNTY HEALTH, IT'S CITY HEALTH AND CITY FEES. >> NO, CITY PERMITTING FEES AND THEN THEY HAVE THEIR SEPARATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. >> [OVERLAPPING] NO, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ALL IN ONE. >> IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE? [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU KNOW HOW WE GOT CITY HALL HERE? WE WOULD GO TO THIS SAID LOCATION, EVERYTHING IS IN ONE. WHERE IF I WERE HERE WE'VE GOT TO GO TO TEXAS CITY TO THE GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO PAY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THE INITIAL $500 AND SOMETHING FOR THE GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT. SO WE'RE PERMITTED TO OPERATE IN GALVESTON COUNTY. NOW WE HAVE TO GO TO CITY AT GALVESTON, $500. CITY OF TEXAS CITY, THEIR FEES, CITY OF LAMONT, THEIR FEE, CITY OF HITCHCOCK THEIR FEE, YOU SEE WHAT I AM SAYING? WHEREAS WITH HOUSTON, WE GO TO THAT ONE LOCATION, WE PAY THAT ONE FEE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON MEDALLION AND THEY SAY, WELL, HERE'S A FULL TRACK MAP OF WHERE YOU CAN OPERATE AT AND WHERE WE CUT OFF AT AND WHERE YOU ENTER IN THE HARRIS COUNTY. IF YOU ENTER IN THE HARRIS COUNTY, YOU GOT TO PLAY BY THEIR RULES. >> [OVERLAPPING] OKAY. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. >> ALL RIGHT. DAVID, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> NO, WHAT JORDAN IS TELLING YOU IS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT [OVERLAPPING] >> YES, EXACTLY WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE [OVERLAPPING]. >> RIGHT. >> THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT. [LAUGHTER] >> WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS THAT WHEN WE PAY THE $500, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MANEUVER WITHIN THE CITY OF GALVESTON WITH THE SAME MANNER, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? [OVERLAPPING] INSTEAD OF HAVING PAYING A 500, IT'S OKAY. THAT'S THE POINT THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET YOU TO. [BACKGROUND] >> YES, MA'AM. >> IN YOUR OPERATION IN HOUSTON DO YOU HAVE TO GET OFF THE STREET EVERY TIME? CAN YOU OPERATE IN A PUBLIC ROADWAY? CAN YOU PULL UP TO THE CURVE AT LUNCH? WHEN I USED TO WORK IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, THEY WERE PARKED ON A CURVE AND WE WOULD RUN OUT OF HIGH RISES AND RUNS DOWN TO THE [OVERLAPPING] >> FOR THEM THEY CAN. THAT'S SOMETHING FOR THE CITY TO VOTE ON. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY DO ALLOW BUT ONLY FOR MAJOR BUSINESSES. [NOISE] THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE COURT HOUSE, A BANK OR A HOSPITAL. >> COULD YOU BE PARKING IN THEIR PARKING LOT, WOULD YOU NOT OR DO YOU? >> IF THEY HAVE A DESIGNATED AREA, YOU CAN BUT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PARK IN A DESIGNATED AREA IN DOWNTOWN. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THE SAME FOR ANSWERS IS LIKE IF A CORNER STORE OR SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PARKING LEVEL ON A FOOD TRUCK IN FRONT, COULD WE PULL UP IN FRONT OF IT? NO. >> OKAY. >> NO. >> OKAY. [OVERLAPPING] >> LET'S JUST [NOISE] SAY THAT I OWNED A SMALL BUSINESS IN HOUSTON AND I WANTED TO HAVE YOU COME DO AN EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION THING AND WHATEVER, COULD YOU PULL UP TO THE CURVE IN FRONT OF MY BUSINESS? >> YEP. [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> BUT EVEN IF IT WAS NOT IN THE ZONE, POSE THEM. THAT'S WHAT HE ASKS FOR, THAT NOTICE. [00:55:01] LIKE SAY YOU HAVE A BUSINESS IN THE RESTRICTED AREA BUT YOU'RE NOT. A LOT OF YOU GO INTO A RESTRICTED AREA. IT HAS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH CUSTOMER APPRECIATION, EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION, A GRAND OPEN IN THE SUBNET. SUCH BUSINESSES HAVING A GREAT OPENER NOR NICE DAY THEIR BUSINESS IN A RESTRICTED ZONE, BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK THERE TO SERVE THE CUSTOMERS AND THEY WOULD ALLOW IT. I COULD NOT COME TO YOUR BUSINESS INSTEAD OF TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AS A DAILY BUSINESS TO CONDUCT. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PART OF AN EVENT FOR ME TO GO INTO IT THAT RESTRICTED AREA. >> HOW DID THEY IDENTIFY THE ZONES? I ASSUME WHATEVER FOOD TRUCK PARKS THERE ARE USED IN WOULD BE INSIDE OF THIS ZONE. BUT WHAT OTHER CRITERIA DO THEY HAVE FOR ESTABLISHING THESE ZONES? >> THEY REALLY DON'T. THEIR MAP IS BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN WHAT'S COVERED UNDER THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WHAT'S COVERED UNDER HARRIS COUNTY. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? FOR INSTANCE, WHAT'S THE GENTLEMAN NAME THAT OWN? >> MR. WALLA. >> MR. WALLA. HIS COMING WAS FREEDOM. I THINK THAT EVEN JUST WHAT THOSE OTHER JUMPED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE FOOD TRUCKS BROUGHT ALONG. [OVERLAPPING] FOR INSTANCE IF YOU GUYS VOTED AND SAY EACH FOOD TRUCK THAT'S IN THE CITY OF GAUSE NEEDS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A FOOD TRUCK PARK AND NOT JUST A PLOT THEM ON BROADWAY. WE WENT OUT AND MADE THAT ZONE. IT WAS A BROADWAY'S OFF-LIMITS FOR FOOD TRUCKS OR LESS. SOMETHING SPECIAL IS HAPPENING. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN GO WITH THE 25TH STREET FOOD TRUCK WEDNESDAY FOOD TRUCK PARK OR WHERE WOULD FOOD TRUCK PARK MAY BE? THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY UP TO YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF. >> DON'T FOR STAFF. THANK YOU, JORDAN. >> WHEN DID THIS RULE ABOUT $500 FOR MOVING FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION HAPPEN? BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE TURNED IN THE THING, IT WAS AN ANNUAL FEE FOR USE ANYWHERE ON THE ISLAND. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S CITY COUNCIL ADDED THAT IF YOU MOVE FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER, YOU HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $500 BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT. IF SOMEBODY IS CHARGING THESE PEOPLE FOR EACH LOCATION, WE MAY NEED TO GET DATA INVOLVED BECAUSE YOU ALL MIGHT [LAUGHTER] HAVE SOME ISSUES. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS NOT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR THE INTENTION AT ANY TIME BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WHEN THEY SENT THIS UP. THERE WAS A LOT OF RESISTANCE FROM SOME BRICK AND MORTARS ABOUT FEE PRICES. I THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY OR EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FOOD TRAILER PARK AND A FOOD TRAILER OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY BECAUSE ALL THE ONES ON BROADWAY HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE LANDOWNER AND THEY HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THAT PERSON. IF THE CHEF MARY BAZ WANTS TO DO SOMETHING ON HER PROPERTY AND SHE CONTRACTS WITH HERSELF AND HAS HER COMMISSARY, THAT'S FINE. HER $500 PERMIT FEE SHOULD BE, AS I THINK IT IS WRITTEN IN UNDERSTOOD, THAT IS AN ANNUAL FEE FOR THE YEAR TO OPERATE ON THE ISLAND. IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THEN SOMETHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THAT ORIGINAL THING CAME UP. THEN THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE AND A BIG FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN OPERATING A FOOD TRUCK AND OPERATING A FOOD TRUCK PARK. THE OPERATION OF FOOD TRUCK PARK OBVIOUSLY HAS A HIGHER FEE, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT FOOD TRUCK PARK PASSES ON THEIR EXPENSES AND THEY PASS ON THE SERVICES THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE TO THEIR VENDORS AND THEIR FOOD TRUCKS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF Y'ALL ARE GETTING CHARGED $500 FOR EVERYTHING UNLESS THERE'S SOME CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE OR TO THE THING, [NOISE] THAT'S REALLY NOT RIGHT. IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED AND CORRECTED. >> THE ORDINATE SAYS SECTION 19-51 DEFINITIONS DEFINES CONCESSION AS MEANS ANY ENTERPRISE WHICH OPERATES IN THE OPEN AND OR UTILIZES A NON-PERMANENT STRUCTURE AND MAKES AVAILABLE FOR SALE, PERISHABLE OR NON-PERISHABLE GOODS OR COMMODITIES. THEN YOU GO TO 19-53. >> READ 52 FIRST [NOISE]. >> PERMIT REQUIRED. >> B AND C. >> ALL PERMITS SHALL BE NON-TRANSFERABLE TO PERSON AND OR LOCATION UNLESS REQUEST IS IN WRITING TO SUPPORT WITH SUPPORTING APPLICATION MATERIALS AND TWO, [01:00:04] REQUEST IS RECEIVED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF ORIGINAL PERMIT ISSUANCE. THAT BASICALLY IS SAYING FOR LOCATION. BUT THEN IT'S CONFUSING THEN IF YOU GO TO 1953, 10, PAYMENT OF A CONCESSION BE AS ESTABLISHED BY CITY COUNCIL, THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE AS ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE $500 PER CONCESSION. THEN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK UP AND REFER TO THIS. IT'S NON-TRANSFERABLE FOR LOCATION. >> BECAUSE THAT WAS BY NO MEANS THE INTENTION OF THE ORIGINAL THING. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GOT CAUGHT UP AND LEGALLY SOMEWHERE AND THEN SOMEBODY SAW ALL THIS IS A WAY TO GENERATE MORE INCOME FOR THE CITY, BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A PRIORITY. >> I AGREE. >> I WISH TO GO IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL. >> I AGREE. THIS IS BRINGING UP SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THAT'S ONE OF THEM. I MEAN, IF I WANTED TO ASK ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO'S PERMITTED ONE OF THESE FOOD TRUCK PARKS, TO COME CATER A PARTY AT MY HOUSE. THEY CAN'T DO. >> YES, WE CAN. [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU CAN'T BE LIKE JAPAN FOR FOOD OF FRYING [OVERLAPPING]. >> 2, 8, 1, 7, 7, 3, 6, 8 >> [LAUGHTER] IF WE WERE TO COME INTO YOUR PROPERTY TO SELL, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE 500. BUT IF WE COME INTO YOUR RESIDENCE OR ANY BIT AND THE FOOD IS PAID FOR IN FULL ON AND WE'RE CATERING, WE DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR $500. [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TRAILERS YOU'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO A PLACE, THEY'RE GOING TO A BAR AND THEY'RE PUTTING ON THEIR ADVERTISING IS A PREPAID EVENT AND WE'RE NOT SELLING IT TO DOOR. YOU'RE PREPAYING TO THE PUBLIC. IT'S A DUCK, IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK AND QUACKS LIKE A DUCK AND THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT, BUT THIS IS HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO SKIRT AROUND IT. THEY'RE DOING IT HEAVIER. SAME THING. PRIVATE EVENT. NO, IT'S NOT. IF YOU'RE COLLECTING MONEY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, FROM THE PUBLIC AND GIVING FOOD YOU HAVE TO ANSWER DANIEL. BOY DANIEL, YOU'VE GOT A BIG HAT THERE THAT YOU'RE WEARING, [LAUGHTER] GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE YOU A HOLSTER AND A GUN. LET ME ASK A QUESTION THEN. IF YOU CAME TO MY HOUSE TO DO A PRIVATE AT A CATERED EVENT, WOULD YOU BE SUBJECTED TO THOSE OR CAN YOU PULL UP TO MY CURB? >> YOUR CATERING. >> [OVERLAPPING] WHICH ENABLES COOL COMPLIANT INTERNATIONALLY EXCEED MORE GETS INVOLVED AND THEY SEE THE ISSUE, THEY'D SAY, "YOU GOT TO MOVE." >> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] >> MARY KNOWS THAT CAN BE DICEY WITH. [LAUGHTER] SHE KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE THAT COULD BE DICEY. THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. ANOTHER OF MY QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF YOU, COLLECTIVELY, I THINK THAT YOU'VE ANSWERED THE EXCESSIVE FEE IS THE QUESTION I HAD. WHAT ABOUT [NOISE] THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PLACED ON FOOD TRUCKS TO NOT BE TOO CLOSE TO BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS TO NOT BE, IF YOU WERE MOBILE, IF YOU WORK. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THOSE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS? >> TALK ABOUT THAT? >> I WAS TOLD IT'S 75 FEET. >> I HAD TO FILL OUT FOR PARKS BASICALLY AT 75 FEET. >> DOES THAT GIVE YOU PAUSE? DO YOU ALL FEEL LIKE THAT'S OKAY? >> IT'S A LITTLE TIGHT DOWNTOWN BUT NO I DON'T KNOW. >> IT USED TO BE EASY. >> THEN WHAT ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PLACED ON OPERATORS FOR RESTROOMS, THE SITTING REQUIREMENTS, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THOSE? THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A POTTED PLANT, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE X NUMBER OF SEATS OUTSIDE YOUR FOOD TRUCK. I GUESS IF YOU'RE IN A FOOD TRUCK PARK, THE FOOD TRUCK PARK HANDLES THE SITTING? >>YES, WE DO. >> OKAY SO THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO [OVERLAPPING]. >> OTHERWISE YOU GET 12 SEATS. >> YES. HOW DO YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT THE 12 SEATS? SHOULD IT BE, AS SOMEONE SAID, [OVERLAPPING] >> I HAVE A QUESTION, OF YOUR 12 SEATS, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE THAT ACTUALLY STAY THERE AND EAT AS OPPOSED TO JUST SIT IN THE CHAIR WAITING FOR THEIR FOOD TO GO. >> I CAN ANSWER THAT. [01:05:01] >> QUITE A FEW. >> YES. >> QUITE A FEW, THAT WE SERVICE. [OVERLAPPING] >> BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, THE TRAILER PARKS THAT I SAW IN AUSTIN THAT I WENT AND VISITED BEFORE I GOT MY FOOD TRAILER. MOST OF THOSE WERE JUST LIGHTING PLACES FOR PEOPLE WAITING TO GET THEIR FOOD, STAY OUT OF THE SUN, AND STUFF THAT. THEN THE NATURE OF MOST FOOD TRUCKS IS MOBILE FOOD. PEOPLE GET IT TO GO BACK TO THE BEACH, AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I THINK IF I RECALL DURING THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, THE BIGGEST CONCERN OF THE BRICK AND MORTARS IS THAT THESE WOULD BE LITTLE RESTAURANTS, AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING TAXES. BUT THE RESEARCH THAT WE DID AT THE TIME FROM CITIES FOR AS FAR AS PORTLAND, OREGON, ALL ACROSS THE US AND THROUGHOUT TEXAS, THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAD SEATING, WAS MAINLY FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT TO GET THEIR FOOD, TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE. I KNOW, I EXPERIENCE THAT WHERE I'M AT. EVEN THOUGH THE LOCATION I HAVE HAPPENS TO HAVE SOME TABLES AND CHAIRS PROVIDED BY WHO I RENT FROM. BUT I WOULD SAY 99 PERCENT OF MY TRAFFIC IS ALL TO GO. >> ALL THE TIME WE SEE, PEOPLE DINING IN WITH US, IN A FOOD PARK OR SO. IT'S WHEN THE FOOD TRUCK PARK, MANAGEMENT, OR OWNER IS HAVING A SET OF THINGS TO ATTRACT PEOPLE MAYBE DO SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS. [OVERLAPPING] A LIVE BAND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE USUALLY SIT DOWN AND ORDER FOOD FROM THE VARIOUS FOOD TRUCKS. ENJOY WHAT'S BEING PUT ON BY THE FOOD TRUCK OWNER, OR FOOD TRUCK PARK MANAGEMENT. LIKE YOU SAID, LOTS OF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE SITTING DOWN JUST WAITING FOR THEIR FOOD. >> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THE SCOPE OF OUR INITIAL INVESTIGATION THAT JOHN PAUL, I THINK, WAS ASKING ABOUT WAS TO REVISIT THE FOOD TRUCK PARKS BECAUSE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MENTIONED, BUT NOBODY REALLY PICKED UP ON THAT, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CLARITY AT THE TIME AND PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE INVOLVED. BUT I THINK THE IDEA OF FOOD TRUCK PARKS IN GALVESTON WOULD BE A DYNAMIC ADDITION TO THE CITY AND AN ATTRACTION. BUT THE FOOD TRUCK PARK OPERATOR HAS TO TAKE ON THAT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DEVELOP AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO BRING IN THE FOOD TRUCKS. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT NEED TO PUT IN THE PEOPLE AND PROVIDE. IT'S LIKE AN RV PARK, BUT IT GIVES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND PROVIDE DIFFERENT FOODS AND SERVICES AND STUFF. >> BUT IT WOULD HELP FROM THE CITY OF GALVESTON SIDE, PARTNERING UP WITH THOSE FOOD TRUCK PARKS. LIKE IT WAS SAID BEFORE, A LOT OF FOOD TRUCKS IN OTHER CITIES, HOUSTON ITSELF DO NOT WANT TO COME DOWN HERE DUE TO THE PROCESS. FOOD TRUCK PARK OWNERS. IF WE HAD SOME KIND OF PROGRAM WHERE WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE CITY, I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD WORK WELL. [OVERLAPPING]. >> I AGREE. I DON'T THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN A FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS AT ALL. BUT THE CITY HAS TO PROVIDE PERMITTING AND I THINK THEY NEED TO PROVIDE EDUCATION THAT COULD BE IN TERMS OF A VIDEO OF WHAT'S REQUIRED. THIS MAP IDEA IS A FANTASTIC THING. I THINK THEY HAVE A ZONING LIST OF WHERE YOU CAN BE, BUT IT'S NOT WHERE FOOD TRUCKS ARE PERMITTED, AND STUFF LIKE THAT. >> OKAY. I WANT TO GO FIRST WITH CHEF Q THEN CHEF MARY BASS, THEN MR. SPENCER THEN MR. DOWNING. OKAY. BECAUSE ALL OF YOU ALL HAD YOUR HANDS UP, AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING WHEN THEY CAME UP. CHEF Q, YOU FIRST, PLEASE. >> AS A FOOD TRUCK INSIDE OF A FOOD TRUCK PARK, WE DO GET A LOT OF GUESTS THAT COME INSIDE AND HAVE A SEAT AND SIT DOWN. BUT THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO [NOISE] IS THEY HAVE THEIR WHOLE FAMILY. WE'LL GET A FAMILY, A TABLETOP OF SEVEN OR EIGHT, THAT'LL SIT DOWN. >> RIGHT. BUT THAT SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE FOOD TRUCK PARK. >> THEY DO. THEY HAVE SEVERAL BENCHES, IT'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SEATING. LIMITS HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SIT AT A TIME. WELL, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS. THEY SIT AND EAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE BEACH, GET SAND IN IT. THEY COME ON LITTLE GOLF CARTS, SIT DOWN AND EAT, ENJOY THE FOOD. THEY'LL BUY DRINKS, AND BRING DRINKS WHICH IS NOT A PROBLEM THERE EITHER AS WELL. THEN THEY'LL LEAVE. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO CALL IN ORDERS, PICK THEM UP, AND LEAVE. THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE WINDOW, ORDER, AND THEN LEAVE. IT'S A GOOD MIX, A LOT OF REPEATS. WE HAVE A LOT OF REPEAT SALES, AND A LOT OF DRIVE-BYS >> THANK YOU. OKAY, CHEF MARY. >> I'VE STARTED TAKING NOTES, SO I JUST GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO JUST LIMIT THE FOOD TRUCKS TO THE PARKS. I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE THE VERBIAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTIES BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE BARS DURING PANDEMIC, [01:10:04] THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO OPERATE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T A 51-49 BUSINESS, AND SO THEY WENT OUT AND PUT AN EXPENSE ON BUYING FOOD TRUCKS TO SIT ON THEIR PROPERTIES SO THAT THEY COULD OPERATE THEIR BAR. THOSE BARS ARE BRICK AND MORTARS AND THEY ALL HAVE FOOD TRUCKS. I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY NEED TO EXCLUDE PRIVATE PROPERTIES AS A WHOLE AND FORCE EVERY TRUCK ONTO THE [OVERLAPPING]. >> I AGREE. [OVERLAPPING] AND THEN THE INDEPENDENT OPERATOR. >> YEAH. I DO THINK THAT THE TRUCKS THAT ARE DOWN BROADWAY, THEY'RE NOT ALL BAD. I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THEM. I DON'T KNOW A SINGLE FOOD TRUCK OWNER ON BROADWAY, BUT THEY'RE ALL ON A PRIVATE GAS STATION PARKING LOT, AND SO THEY HAVE A LEASE, BUT THOSE OWNERS NEED TO BE HELD TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS THAT THE FOOD TRUCK PARKS ARE AND SO THAT THEY PROVIDE THE THINGS THAT THE FOOD TRUCK PARKS ALSO HAVE TO PROVIDE. BECAUSE, IF I HAVE A PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND I WANT TO PUT A TRUCK ON THERE, IT SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY. THEY SHOULD ALL HAVE THE SAME THINGS. THEN THE CREDIT CARD AND CASH, TRUCKS TAKE MORE CARDS THAN CASH, WE'RE NOT HIDING. THEY ARE NOT HIDING ANY MONEY, I PROMISE. THE TRUCKS, I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT INTO THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S SO BURDENSOME TO GET TO THAT POINT, THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO. I CAN SAY JORDAN PERSONALLY, DURING THE FREEZE WITH BRICK AND MORTARS, DIDN'T HAVE POWER AND DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO FEED THE COMMUNITY, HE WAS OUT THERE COOKING IN HIS TRUCK, USING HIS PROPANE AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO FEED THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO JUST ALLOWS A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY DURING THESE SITUATIONS WHERE WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. THERE IS ENOUGH BUSINESS FOR EVERYBODY ON THIS ISLAND. WE DO NOT HAVE TO SAY THAT, WE DON'T HAVE TO OSTRACIZE ANYBODY. I THINK THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR FOOD TRUCKS, THERE IS A PLACE FOR BRICK AND MORTAR, THERE IS A PLACE FOR RENEWABLE FOOD BUSINESSES. AS LONG AS WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WHERE IT EASES THE BURDENS ON THE TRUCKS, ALLOWS PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS TO HAVE THE OPTION OF PUTTING A TRUCK ON THEIR PROPERTY, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO OPERATE ACROSS THE BOARD. THEN, THAT'S IT. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS? [LAUGHTER] >> MR. SPENCER, YOU WERE NEXT. >> ACTUALLY, I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO HER. I THINK SHE BASICALLY SAYS WHAT I WANT [LAUGHTER], WHICH IS THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE PRIVATE OPERATOR, A FOOD TRUCK, AND A FOOD TRUCK CLERK, I THINK WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. I DON'T KNOW IF EVERY TRUCK ON BROADWAY IS PAYING THE SAME FEES THAT I'M PAYING. I WOULD HOPE THEY ARE BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY FALL INTO A DIFFERENT CATEGORY OR IF THEY'RE JUST IGNORING THE FOOD TRUCK PARK REQUIREMENT. I FORGOT WHAT THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO BRING UP. BASICALLY, THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME, IS TO DISTINGUISH. OH, THE OTHER THING WAS THE MAP. THE IDEA OF WHEN I APPLIED FOR MY APPLICATION [OVERLAPPING], WHEN I GOT MY LICENSE FOR THE PARK, I ASKED FOR LESS BULK FOOD TRUCKS THAT WERE ALLOWED TO OPERATE ON THE ISLAND AND THAT'S AVAILABLE BUT IT WAS MADE CLEAR TO ME THAT OF COURSE, ANYBODY WHO'S SUPPLYING, WE CAN'T TELL THEM WHERE TO GO. WE CAN'T REFER YOU WHERE TO PARK, IN OTHER WORDS, AND I GOT THAT. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF A MAP, THOSE AREAS WHERE NEW TRUCKS AND EXISTING TRUCKS IN FACT CAN OPERATE. THAT'S CLARITY, THAT'S INFORMATION WE ALL HAVE AND WE CAN ALL HELP BECOME PART OF THAT SAME COMMUNITY. >> MR. DAWNY, YOUR NEXT. >> ON ACCOUNT FOR A FOOD TRUCK PARK OPERATOR, SOMEBODY MADE A COMMENT THAT THERE WERE 75-FOOT SETBACKS. BUT WE HAVE 360 BY 100 BEACH LOUNGE ON 3005. >> OUT OF BRICK AND MORTAR. >> [INAUDIBLE] WELL, YOUR REGULATION SAY, I GOT TO BE 100 FEET FROM THE CENTER OF THE ROAD THAT WE FACE. I'VE GOT TO BE 100 FEET FROM THE RESIDENCE THAT IS ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTY. OUT OF THOSE THREE LAWS, I GET TO USE ABOUT LESS THAN ONE LOT TO OPERATE MY FOOD TRUCK PARK. BEFORE WHEN IT WAS JUST COMMERCIAL, WE HAD NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES OUT THERE. I COULD BUILD A CREMATORIUM AS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEAL AND I COULD BE 10 FEET FROM THE RESIDENT'S BACK THERE AND I CAN BE THERE WAS A 10-FOOT SETBACK FOR PROPERTY LINE OF 3005. WHY ARE YOU RESTRICTING US TO SUCH A SMALL SPOT TO ALLOW US TO OPERATE A BUSINESS? [01:15:04] I'VE GOT THREE LOTS I PAY TAXES ON, A LOT OF TAX, AND I CAN ONLY USE A SMALL PORTION OF THOSE THREE LOTS. [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S SOMETHING FOR FOOD TRUCK PARK OPERATORS TO LOOK AT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A FOOD TRUCK PARK, YOU BETTER HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THAT SMALL FOOTPRINT IN ORDER TO OPERATE. >> [OVERLAPPING] I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION TO THE GROUP. THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU PROVIDE 1000 SQUARE FEET PER CONCESSION IN A FOOD TRUCK PARK, IS THAT ADEQUATE? IS AN INADEQUATE? ARE YOU ABLE TO WORK WITHIN THAT PARAMETER, OR DO YOU NEED MORE SPACE OR LESS SPACE? >> IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE SOME OF THESE TRAILERS' SHIFT Q IS LIKE 27 FEET [LAUGHTER]. >> YOUR TRUCK HAS TO BE WITHIN 1000 FEET. [LAUGHTER] ALSO YOU NEED YOUR GARBAGE CAN, YOUR POTTED PLANT [OVERLAPPING]. >> WE HAVE A TRASH DUMPSTER THAT WE PAY TO HAVE SOMEBODY, WE HAVE AFFORDED POTTY WITH THIS WASHING STATION. WE SUPPLY ALL THAT CHAIRS AND TABLES AND SO FORTH. >> [OVERLAPPING] IN TWO PARKING SPACES, TWO PARKING LOTS. >> [LAUGHTER] YOU'RE PORTIONING THAT 1000 SQUARE FEET AMONG ALL OF YOUR VENDORS, OVERALL IF WE AVERAGE THAT, THERE WOULD BE 1000 PER VENDOR, RIGHT? OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED. >> I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE THING. WE WOULD SHIFT BASSETT AND SOMEBODY WOULD THINK AS WELL, THESE BARS THAT ARE BRINGING TRAILERS IN, THEY ARE NOT BEING DONE PROPERLY. I'LL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW, AT SOME OF THESE AND THE PRIVATE LOCATIONS, I HAVE NO PROBLEM. I DON'T CARE WHERE THEY GO AS LONG AS DANIEL SAYS THEY COMPLY, MEANING THEY'RE PAYING $1000 LIKE WE DO. I DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE ONE TRUCK OR NO TRUCK BECAUSE WHAT YOU DO AND YOU DO, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A T PULL, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S BATHROOM FACILITIES, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRUCKS ARE LEGAL. >> WELL, [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF CORONA, THE TRAILER PARK OPERATES DIFFERENTLY THAN AN INDIVIDUAL [OVERLAPPING]. IF THE PROPERTY OWNER ALLOWS THEM TO SET UP AND THEY WANT TO RUN THEIR GENERATOR AND THEY'RE OKAY WITH THAT, THEY CAN RUN IT [OVERLAPPING] THERE. >>THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. >> BUT THEY DON'T DO IT. >> BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO IMPOSE RULES OF A TRAILER PARK. >> I MOST CERTAINLY DO. IF YOU SAW WHAT WE SAW. >> WELL, I OWN A FOOD TRAILER AND I OWN MULTIPLE RESTAURANTS. >> RIGHT. >> IF I HAD TO IMPOSE THE RULES OF THE FEES THAT A BRICK AND MORTAR PAYS ON THAT. IT'S NOT FAIR [OVERLAPPING]. >> IF YOU DON'T DO THIS AND YOU LET TRAILERS GO WHO THEIR AMNION WHICH I AGREE THEY SHOULD, THERE'S GAS STATIONS THAT LET YOU JUST PULL UP, TAKE AN EXTENSION CORD AND ANOTHER EXTENSION CORD AND PLUGIN IT'S NOT SAFE. THEY'RE NOT ON THEIR GENERATORS, YET THE THING YOU REALLY NEED TO WATCH, MARSHALS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE YOUR RULES. [OVERLAPPING]. >> IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR BEEN TRAILER PARK OR INDIVIDUAL, AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THE RULES AND CODES OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, THAT'S FINE [OVERLAPPING]. >> IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT WE DO, DANIEL CAN'T MONITOR YOU. IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY COMMERCIAL OR WHATNOT, THEY DON'T CHECK FOR ZONING. THEY JUST SAY, "TACO TRUCK COME HERE." NO HEALTH DEPARTMENT, NO CITY PERMIT, NO ELECTRIC POLE. THEY DON'T REQUIRE THIS STUFF. IF YOU DON'T MAKE DANIEL KNOW EVERYTHING [OVERLAPPING]. >> WE NEED TO WRAP THIS UP. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ILLEGAL PEOPLE OPERATING VERSUS PEOPLE THAT ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES. THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS. YEAH. I AGREE WITH YOU. I WISH WE HAD A WHOLE MARSHAL DIVISION JUST TO ENFORCE FOOD TRAILERS [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] I WANT DO YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT. THE HEDGE BAD GUYS ON THERE BUT OF THE PLUMBING AND SPAN. >> THE WAY TO COMBAT THAT IS, IF YOU'VE GOT A FOOD TRUCK ON YOUR PROPERTY, YOU NEED TO GO TO THIS MAN, GET PERMIT. >> THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. >> ABSOLUTELY. NO. >> THAT'S ALL SHE WAS SAYING. >> NOBODY DISAGREED WITH HER, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, IF THERE'S NO PENALTY FOR THAT PERSON. >> THERE'S THE REGULATION. >> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T COMPARE AND CONTRAST ON THE SITUATION OR DON'T HATE ME [OVERLAPPING]. HOUSTON DOES NOT REQUIRE PRIVATE PROPERTIES TO [01:20:02] HAVE A PERMIT TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK ON PROPERTY. THEY JUST HAVE IN THERE HOW FAR THE FOODS TRUCK HAS TO BE FROM THE SAME BUILDING. [OVERLAPPING] KNOWING THESE THINGS, IF YOU GO TO A GAS STATION IN HOUSTON WITH A FOOD TRUCK, THEY TELL YOU HOW FAR THE FOOD TRUCK OR FOOD TRAILER HAS TO BE AWAY FROM THE PLANTS [NOISE] THEY DO NOT MAKE EACH INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE PROPERTY TO OBTAIN A PERMIT TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK ON PROPERTY. THEY JUST SAY, HEY, THIS IS HOW FAR THE FOOD TRUCK NEEDS TO BE FROM SAY PROPERTY, SAY GAS STATION, SAY IT, WHATEVER. THAT'S THE END-ALL-BE-ALL. HOW ELSE WOULD THEY DO? MAKE THE PROPERTY CHECK-IN WHICH WILL BE GETTING TO SAY, HEY, WE NOW HAVE A FOOD TRUCK ON OUR PROPERTY. THEN THAT'S WHERE DAVID WILL STEP IN AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS THE ONLY SPOT THAT YOU CAN HOUSE A FOOD TRUCK OR YOUR PROPERTY IS NOT BIG ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING AWAY SPICE OR WAS IT IMPEDED TRAFFIC. THAT'S WHERE HE WILL STEP IN AND I GUESS WE'LL SEE THE MARSHALS STEPPING IN. I ALSO SAY, WE NEED TO GET TO SEE THE MARSHALS ON BOARD BECAUSE THEY GET CALLED DIFFERENT RESIDENTS CALL AND THEY SAY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO [INAUDIBLE]. THEY DON'T KNOW THAT. THE CITY MARSHALS DOES NOT KNOW FOR RULES AT GAO HAVE SET IN PLACE. [INAUDIBLE] TO BE HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOU GUYS. >> WELL, I THANK YOU ALL. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MEETING STARTING AT 3:30 AND WE NEED A LITTLE TINY BREAK. I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THIS HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLY ENLIGHTENING FOR US AND YOUR HELP IS INVALUABLE. THANK YOU. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW IS WE'RE GOING TO ASK COUNCIL, JOHN PAUL, LISTOWSKI, AND DAVID COLLINS HERE, HOW THEY WANT US TO PROCEED FROM HERE. WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM YOU GUYS. WE'VE HEARD FROM DANIEL AS TO WHAT SOME OF THE FLAWS ARE. IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT DEFINITIONS, INTERPRETATIONS OF FEE STRUCTURES. ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE REVAMPED AND LOOK AT. WE'RE GOING TO ASK COUNSEL NOW HOW THEY WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. WE HOPE YOU WILL ALL SAY INVOLVE, DANIEL, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS A PERMIT IS NOTIFIED OF HOW WE'RE GOING FORWARD FROM HERE SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE INPUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THEM. [APPLAUSE] TO MAKE SOME TIME FOR THAT VERY APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE APPRECIATE IT. I TOOK SO MANY NOTES. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.