Food trucks to stay, with changes

NEWS/ LIFESTYLE — Food trucks were a hit with downtown workers last year but, with downtown restaurants — not so much.

A City staff report says the pilot program that allowed food trucks to park in three downtown locations over the summer and fall “was overwhelmingly positive” among people who work in the area. However, 55 per cent of downtown restaurants said the food trucks hurt business.

As for the food truck operators, they didn’t think much of locations in front of the Paramount Theatre on Victoria Street and in front of the Civic Building on Fifth Avenue, saying they weren’t financially viable. They want earlier start times, especially on Saturdays when the Farmers Market operates near the Gaglardi Square location at Second Avenue and Seymour Street.

Staff is recommending the food trucks be limited to the Gaglardi Square spot and that the hours be expanded, letting them start at 9 a.m. instead of 10 on week days, and 7 a.m. on weekends.

The report says not all vendors in the pilot program were consistent in showing up on their permitted days, and measures will be taken to fix that.

If council agrees to let the program continue, staff will monitor its effectiveness this year and suggest further changes if needed.

Several other changes are also recommended on details of the bylaw governing food trucks. City council will consider the report Tuesday.