Arkansas-side officials weigh mobile food vendor rules

Mobile food vendor rules top the agenda for Monday’s meeting of the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors.

The board will take up a proposed ordinance that sets fees for food truck and food trailer permits, as well as narrow limitations on where and when they may operate.

Under the proposed regulations, a mobile food vendor would need a city permit, which would cost $250 per year, as well as valid health permits.

By law, mobile food vendors must have a commissary where they can get fresh water, dispose of waste water and clean their equipment. The ordinance gives vendors the option of using a city-owned commissary for an additional fee of $150 per year.

Food trucks and trailers could operate only during a scheduled “Mobile Food Court Event” at a designated “Mobile Food Court Venue,” either Front Street Festival Plaza or the southernmost parking area of Bobby Ferguson Park. The ordinance does not specify who would schedule such events or what procedure they would use to do so.

The ordinance sets other rules including prohibition of noise nuisances such as loud music and limiting vendors’ hours to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The board will hear a first reading of the ordinance. Normal procedure is for the board to present the ordinance for discussion twice more at subsequent meetings and then vote on it, but they may elect to fast-track it, reading it all three times and voting during the same meeting.

The agenda includes a citizen communication time during which members of the public may address the board on any topic for up to five minutes each.

The meeting is scheduled for

6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 216

Walnut St.