8.2 SR 06-03-2024The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community
engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Request for Action
To
City Council
Item Number
8.2
Meeting Date
June 3, 2024
Prepared By
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Item Description
Ordinance Amendment 24-16: Food Trucks
Reviewed by
Cal Portner
Tina Allard
Action Requested
Adopt, by motion, Ordinance 24-16 updating the restrictions on food trucks.
Background/Discussion
With summer 2024 kicking off, we'll receive questions regarding allowed food truck locations. Administration,
police, and parks & recreation staff reviewed the current regulations with the intent that everyone leaving the
meeting would understand the regulations, and we could provide consistent messaging.
During the meeting, a few changes to the regulations were requested as follows:
Parking of Food Trucks
▪ Changing from a paved surface to an approved surface. This definition would be more consistent with
other areas of the code and allow trucks to be parked on asphalt, concrete, and Class 5 surfaces.
▪ Increasing the number of spaces a truck could occupy from two to three. The staff felt the two spaces
were a more comfortable fit and safer for people around a truck.
Downtown District
Food trucks are not permitted downtown during the River's Edge concerts. City events can change
downtown, so the language was changed to be more generic to include any city events unless authorized by
the City Council.
City Approval in Parks
This is a housekeeping item to have language consistency throughout the code because job descriptions can
change.
Financial Impact
N/A
Page 430 of 464
Mission/Policy/Goal
Support the growth and development of the community.
Attachments
1. Draft Ordinance for Food Trucks
Page 431 of 464
Page 1 of 2
Ordinance 24-___
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 38, Section 414, Regarding Restrictions for
Mobile Food Units (Food Trucks) of the City of Elk River, Minnesota, City Code
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That City of Elk River City Code §38-414(d)(8)(13)(14). - Restrictions shall be
amended to read, with addition in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows:
(d)For mobile food units.
(8)Parking. Mobile food units must be located on an paved approved surface. Approved
surfaces include: asphalt, concrete, and class 5 or crushed concrete compacted to a dust
free surface. A mobile food unit may not operate in a traffic lane, on a sidewalk, or in any
location which causes an obstruction of traffic, such as queuing of patrons or
advancement of vehicles. A mobile food unit may operate on eligible public streets and
occupy no more than two three parking spaces. No parking or sales shall take place within
60 feet of an intersection of two or more streets or within 30 feet of a driveway that enters
a public street.
(13)Locations. Mobile food units shall be allowed in public right-of-way only in zoning districts
where retail sales are allowed as permitted or special uses under the city's zoning code.
Except that mobile food units may be located on privately owned property in the
commercial, industrial, and downtown zoning areas of the city with written property
owner permission and residential lots as exempted per section 383 (11).
In the downtown district only one mobile food unit shall be permitted on public property
located at the designated, signed parking area along King Avenue. Reservations are not
permitted on King Avenue when the city hosts concert nights in River's Edge Parkevents
unless authorized by city council. City council may further authorize mobile food units in
the downtown district for city-sanctioned activities. Applications for the downtown
district will only be accepted up to three months in advance and are on a first come first
serve basis with fee payment and a completed application.
(14)City parks. Mobile food units are not allowed in city parks unless they get written
permission of the parks and recreation directorcity administrator or their designee. Except
that parks with concession stands also require the written consent of the concession
operator for their specific event.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and be published as provided by
law.
Page 432 of 464
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 3rd day of June, 2024.
______________________________
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Page 433 of 464