Clarification on food trucks

Editor’s Note: In last week’s newspaper the Journal-Sun published an article to help clarify the confusion and frustration about food truck operations within the City of Atlanta. Unfortunately, there were still some misunderstandings, and we printed some things that were not true. We also allowed misaligned frustrations to spill over to the newspaper from social media.

Over the last week, the Atlanta Chamber has taken the brunt of the frustration for an old ordinance that was beyond their control and did not involve them. They have even endured vicious personal attacks over the issue. Many people are unaware, but the Atlanta Chamber operates outside the offices of the city. Even though the goal of the chamber is to benefit the community, they are also there to serve its members. It might be compared in the same way to other civic organizations that serve our community.

The fact of the matter, is their membership, as their name implies, is a service to the greater Atlanta area including towns such as Queen City and Bloomburg. We apologize for any misunderstanding that came from the article that insinuates they are a city lead organization.

Second, we mentioned in the article that the ordinance restriction was six years old and that outside of the two approved popups they could only be chamber events.

That information was in error. The ordinance in question was from 1990 and though it addresses popups and food trucks, it was not specifically a popup ordinance and does not mention the chamber. In 2016 the ordinance was amended to allow greater clarity.

Under the current ordinance, outside the two approved popups, any event, not just the chamber, food trucks could participate.

I want to make clear also that our reporter followed credible sources, are received what she believed correct information. I do no blame my reporter for the work she did on the article.

In conclusion to the end of this personal note, I would hope we as a community can work together on any particular issue with each other, for the betterment of our community. We are stronger together than divided. *************** On Wednesday, December 7, Danica Porter, Atlanta City Manager hoped to bring greater clarity to the article and in response to information circulating in the community, “the City of Atlanta would like to bring clarity to some misconceptions regarding food trucks.” “The City of Atlanta and certainly the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce 100% support small businesses of many kinds, including food trucks. We not only welcome them but highly encourage them to start a business here in Atlanta. We understand not all small business owners are able to start out at a brick-and-mortar location and that many of them get their start with a mobile food truck. The current ordinance that was adopted in 1990 only allows outdoor sales including mobile food trucks twice per year.

“In 2016 a small business owner was issued a Special Use Permit at 801 W. Main Street. That allowed the Come-and-takeit Café, Topp Hat’s Kickin’ Chicken, The Dawngeon, and now JB’s Taco Kitchen to operate more than twice per year. There have been others that have gone through the same process to set up their food trucks throughout the city.

“Regarding the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce having exclusive rights to host food trucks at their events, this is a misconception. With property owner permission, any business that has an event in the city of Atlanta may have mobile food trucks without a permit, not just the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is not responsible for city ordinances. They do not make or enforce any city ordinance.

“The city has many resources available to help support small businesses. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has an office located at City Hall. The SBDC provides free business advising and a variety of services to start-ups as well as established businesses. The City also offers a low-interest Revolving Loan Fund that if approved, may help with some of the cost of opening a small business.”

“We are currently working on amending the 1990 ordinance that will release some of the restrictions on mobile food trucks. We also recommend any food truck operators to attend the meetings and give some input on the proposed ordinance when it is on the agenda. The City Council meets every first and third Tuesday. You can check the website or the bulletin board outside of City Hall for any scheduled meeting.

“My office door is always open, and I welcome anyone with any suggestions to stop by.”

At the Last City Council meeting, Derrick and Tomeka White, co-owners of Topp Hat’s Kickin’ Chicken food truck showed up to voice concern about the restrictions.

The City Council and Porter expressed willingness to help the Whites and look at the food truck further in the future.