Saskatoon looks to loosen rules on food trucks

Members of Saskatoon's growing food truck scene hope new rules cooked up by city hallare a recipe for success.

City councillorsare looking to loosen the rules, extend the hours and lower the permit prices for food truck operators in advance of this year's street eats season.

Wes Dennis, who operatesone of the city's newestfood trucks, says he's grateful for the changes.

"Obviously, more hours and lesser fees, it's just a better opportunity for us," Dennis saidwhile setting up his food truck A Cuban, A Reuben and A Jerk in Saskatoon.

The new rule changes would not only lower the cost to operatea food truckin public parking stalls by several hundred dollars, but would also allow them to operate near neighbourhood parks for the first time something that was banned under the old regime.

Dennis has only been operating the Caribbean-themed truck for a few weeks, but he said he's grateful for the new potential rule changes.

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But some food truck owners, like Rick Mah, think the changes don't go far enough. He said the city needs to give food trucks more flexibility in terms of where they can set up shop.

"They are not easy to park, with all the restrictions like you can't park on a corner, at an alley, in front of a restaurant, at a bus stop, angle park, bike lanes. It doesn't leave a lot of spots open. Downtown, you know, it's tough," Mah said.

He said he wouldlike to see owners given the ability to pay for dedicated parking stalls for the whole summer.He even floated the idea that the city could temporarily close off a downtown street and designate it for street-food vendors.

He said a healthy food truck industry won't just help owners, but the city's downtown as a whole.

"They are trying to get people downtown, but they are not helping the food trucks, that's for sure," Mah said.

Councillorbacks rule changes

The cost of parking in a downtown or Broadway parking stall could also be cut by almost $500 for a three-month pass, going from$1,250 downto $772. The cost of a six-month pass for a double stall could be cut by nearly $1,700.

Food trucks will also now be allowed to park for six hours at a time instead of five.

Coun. Bev Dubois saidfood truck operators and park patrons told her that getting trucks near busy neighbourhood parks would be a good fit.

She said during sporting tournaments, for example, the trucks could set up shop and out-of-town athletes or fans wouldn't have to travel far for a bite to eat.

Restaurant owners upset about food trucks

The proposed rule changes come on the heels of a city-commissioned survey that looks at the impact of food trucks since the first ones were licensed in the city in 2013.

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Of the 29 non-food truck business owners surveyed, 14 said their businesses had been "negatively affected by on-street food trucks."

According to the survey, the business owners said garbage, health and sanitation, and "fairness" were top issues for business owners.

Food truck owners surveyed, meanwhile, said the parking fees were too high.

Dubois says she wants to make sure sanitation issues are top of mind, but pointed out the city did not receive any complaints about garbage or sanitation in 2016.

While she sympathizes with anybusiness that is struggling, she says food trucks are a new reality and everyone needs to learn to get along.

"I think at the end of the day we need to work together with this. This is the way of the future,"Dubois said.

Last summer, eight food trucks were licensed to operate in Saskatoon, while there were seven licences issued in 2015.

A city report says there's been "gradual growth" in on-street food trucks since licensing began in 2013.