SPANISH FORT — Food trucks could be allowed on the streets of Spanish Fort under a proposed ordinance being considered by city officials.

The Spanish Fort City Council will consider the ordinance after receiving a recommendation from the planning commission, Mayor Mike McMillan said.

David Conner, city attorney, said the planning commission is scheduled to meet Sept. 12. The council meeting following that date is Sept. 19.

“At this point in time, we do not allow these types of uses within the corporate limits of the city,” Conner said. “This resolution would authorize and allow them subject to certain terms and conditions.”

Under the ordinance, food truck operators would have to have a special city annual operator’s permit in addition to a business license. The permit would cost $40 a year. Food truck operators would be responsible for paying city sales taxes, including any special taxes in a cooperative improvement district if sales are made in those areas.

The operators would have to have written permission from the owner of the property where the trucks would be set up.
Food trucks would not be allowed to operate within 200 feet of an existing restaurant unless the truck operator owns the restaurant or has written permission from the restaurant operator in the vehicle when it is operating.

Trucks would be allowed to operate between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The units would not be allowed to operate at a particular location for more than three days in a row, according to the ordinance.

Any items used by the truck operator, such as tables, chairs, tents and trash cans would have to be removed from the site when the vehicle was not operating. Operators would not be allowed to build or use a fixed structure on the property where the truck is located.

No more than two food trucks would be allowed to operate at one site at the same time. A particular food truck could not operate at more than two sites on the same day.

Truck operators would not be allowed to use distractions, such as bull horns, amplifiers or flashing lights.

Operators would be required to remove all trash each day and cannot use city garbage cans on the site for waste disposal.

Trucks would have to be located off public rights of way and not block fire hydrants, driveway or parking lot entrances and walkways. Any tables, chairs or other items set up by the operator would also not be allowed to block rights of way or other access points.