Beatrice officials finalize food truck ordinance

BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice now has regulations governing food trucks and mobile food vending on public property, as part of the city’s code.
The city council gave final approval Monday night, following a public hearing where it heard no citizen input. That followed a planning and zoning commission hearing where no public comment was given.

"They can be in the same locations as restaurants in general...permitted by right in light commercial, general commercial, central business district...and then by special use permit in light industrial and general industrial locations." Food trucks would have to have at least two-thousand square feet around their location, for parking and access.

City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says the new regulations would include weekly and annual permits, along with fees.  "What we have proposed in here, is a weekly permit that would be $10, an annual permit would be $25, and a mobile food establishment permit which would be annually, would be $25."

A mobile food establishment permit would be sought by businesses such as a downtown brewery in Beatrice.

"The brewery themselves would apply for the permit, and then under the city code that you passed, they just have to notify the city one business day in advance, who is going to be showing up and selling food that next day. We're trying to make it very easy for them to have the permit. They could then have somebody different every day...the permit says that's fine. Under this proposed fee resolution before you, they would pay $25 for the year."

The amended ordinance and zoning amendment on food trucks were approved on 7-0 votes of the council.