Food trucks with city-issued licenses will have to look elsewhere than downtown Langley during Choochokam Arts Festival weekend.
The Langley City Council approved 3-1 a motion Monday night to exclude the vendors July 11-12. The annual music and arts festival draws thousands and cordons off parts of the downtown business area for artists to sell their works and food vendors to keep the crowd fed. Councilman Bruce Allen, who serves on the festival’s board, voted against the rule because he originally wanted a city-wide exclusion during the weekend. Food vendors during Choochokam pay around $500 for the right to operate, Allen said, which includes the cost of power. City-licensed food trucks would pay at least $200, plus an open-ended bid.
Under the amended rules, a property owner outside of the downtown area could allow a food truck to set up shop, so long as it had the proper city license and county health permit.
“It’s a competition at this point, and the restaurants have a hard time already,” said Councilwoman Rene Neff, who initially supported Allen’s motion for the full exclusion.
Allen’s motion was held moot by two nay votes by Councilmen Thomas Gill, who had previously argued against the city barring food trucks outside of downtown, and Jim Sundberg.
In previous meetings, Sundberg and Gill sparred over the city’s authority to favor a business that pays property tax, such as existing restaurants on First and Second streets. On Monday night, Sundberg said he was concerned with the precedent Langley may set by shutting business down during an event weekend.
After the 2-2 stalemate, Allen’s motion failed to pass and the subject was again up for council discussion. Gill proposed amending the rules to exclude food trucks from using the two identified spaces on First Street and Anthes Avenue and on Second Street just west of Anthes near the electric vehicle charging stations. Gill’s motion passed 3-1.
Prior to the vote, council members said they were concerned with the price of the license, application fee and bid. Langley’s rules require motorized food vendors to pay a $100 business license, $100 for the application fee, and bid for use of one of the public spaces. Neff questioned the cost of business for a food truck in Freeland, which is governed by Island County rules.
“I’m worried we’re pricing ourselves out of business,” Neff said.
Director of Community Planning Michael Davolio said the bids are a way to level the playing field for brick-and-mortar restaurants.
A season has already been established as part of the city’s ordinance. Food trucks can operate in Langley between May 21 and Sept. 8 on the belief that during the busier tourist season dining demand expands.
Langley’s food truck ordinance expires at the end of 2015, essentially making this a trial run and giving the city council time to consider whether to keep it in place or amend it further.
