Seattle Council OKs More Street Food Trucks

As reported by Seattle Times, link to full article follows;

In a month’s time, Seattle will join the ranks of cities around the country where food trucks can legally do business on a public street.

The Seattle City Council voted 8-0 Monday in favor of the new rules, which allow food trucks to sell beyond private lots. Mayor Mike McGinn, who supports the bill, has 30 days to sign it into law.

Councilmember Sally Clark, who introduced the bill, said the legislation might make it easier for entrepreneurs to open a small business.

“The overarching goal: a little more interest in neighborhoods, a little more interest out in the street life,” Clark said.

The bill also expands the kinds of food that sidewalk carts can sell, beyond hot dogs, popcorn and coffee. Public Health-Seattle & King County will have to approve a cart’s menu and food-preparation methods.

No public agency tracks how many food trucks operate in Seattle, though truck owners estimate there are fewer than 30 of the new style of gourmet food truck, such as Marination Mobile and Skillet.

“We just have not seen much happening,” said Gary Johnson, from the Department of Planning and Development, who helped write the bill.

Food trucks and sidewalk carts have become popular in cities across the country, from Los Angeles and Portland to New York and Washington, D.C.

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