The City of Lacombe is welcoming food trucks and other mobile vendor operations to the City by updating and harmonizing its bylaws and policies to expand food vendor access to certain streets, sidewalks and parking lots in the city.
“Mobile vendors, and in particular, mobile food vendors have become a growing area of the prepared food industry,” said Mayor Steve Christie.
“Until now, Lacombe had very limited opportunities for mobile vendors, as they were governed by no less than three different, and sometimes competing, municipal bylaws.”
To date, the City has received interest from two truck-based food vendors, a general merchandise vendor and a portable food vendor to operate in various locations throughout the City.
The primary bylaw for mobile vendors in Lacombe is the City’s Business License Bylaw.
Mobile vendors are identified as ‘mobile business units’. This applies to all temporary mobile vendors, whether operating from a motor vehicle or a temporary structure. They are also affected by the land use and traffic bylaws.
“The approved bylaw changes are minor and will have minimal impact on operations,” said Director of Corporate Services Michael Minchin. “There will be no changes made to the licensing fees for these types of businesses, as there already is a separate fee for non-resident business license holders.”
Hours for mobile food vendors were also expanded by council at the June 29th meeting to provide for different food vendor opportunities.
Vendors will be only be restricted from operating between the hours of 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. They will not be allowed to place any tables and chairs on any street, sidewalk or public space, or play loud music or otherwise disturb the peace while vending their merchandise.
Subject to CAO approval, in addition to streets and sidewalks, mobile vendors will be able to operate in the following eligible locations:
• All municipal public parking lots.
• Pullouts on 51st Ave. adjacent to the LMC (excluding bus stop)
• Cranna Lake Trail Head
• Arena parking lot
• Hwy. 12 service road by Michener
• Michener parking lot by the ball diamonds
• Police station (once constructed)
• Airport parking lot
A map will be developed and made available, identifying which spaces would be usable based on the above criteria. These criteria will minimize the disruption to other businesses and reduce possible safety issues near streets and lanes.
Vendors wanting to operate on public lands and/or streets and sidewalks will have to get City permission.
-Maetche