The city council directed staff to report on the status of mobile food vending in the City of Hermiston.  The current mobile food vending rules were established by the city council in 2013 and codified in chapter 116 of the Hermiston Code of Ordinances.  The council adopted the rules in response to citizen concerns about the unregulated nature of mobile food vending occurring in the city at the time.

The adopted regulatory code is comprehensive in its oversight of mobile food vending.  A copy of the complete code is attached to this memo.  Some of the most pertinent code provisions include:

• A cap on the total number of permitted vendors.  A total of ten licenses were possible but only three were issued, setting the cap at three per 116.02(E).
• Mobile food vendors shall provide five paved parking spaces.
• Seating for customers is not permitted.
• Must be 400 feet from another mobile vendor or restaurant.
• Mobile unit must leave the premises each night.

The city is in the process of conducting a survey to gauge citizen opinions on mobile food vending.  The survey will conclude on July 15.  The survey asks if the number of licenses should be increase, what other food options are desired, if the locations available should be expanded, and if a short-term license should be created in addition to the annual license already in place.  The survey questions are designed to gauge the public opinion on those questions that the city receives most frequently.  As of the date of this memo, 548 responses have been received.

In general, staff receives one to two inquiries per month asking to set up an additional food truck in the city.

This report is intended to inform the council of the progress so far on updating the mobile food vendor requirements.  A full reporting of the results of the survey will be presented once the survey closes.  The survey is accessible via the city's website and the city's facebook page.