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MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU) — Food truck owners have won out in Marshfield.
On Tuesday the City Council voted to walk back restrictions on when and where food trucks can operate. Event organizers will now include a list of mobile food vendors with their event applications. The trucks may also operate on private property if they receive written permission from the owner.
City Clerk Jessica Schiferl explained that the changes correct an oversite in the ordinance that made it more restrictive than it should have been. “[The city] had a longstanding policy to not to permit vending on public property. This clears up something that was not necessarily being enforced.”
The proposal originally limited food trucks to operating during city-run events, meaning a privately organized fundraiser or social event wouldn’t be allowed to bring in a local food vendor to serve guests. Owners cried foul nearly immediately, pushing a city committee to hold an emergency meeting last Thursday where Alders voted to move the change forward to Tuesday’s meeting with a recommendation that they bypass the city’s normal two-reading requirement for implementation.
Schiferl added that the compromise does still come with restrictions. Food trucks will not be allowed on public streets. Event organizations using city parks will also be required to rent certain facilities such as the Wildwood Station Pavillion or the stage in the Wenzel Plaza. In other parks, it will be the primary shelter or stage.
Alders Natasha Tomkins and Mike O’Reilly credited the city and the truck owners for working together to craft the compromise.
Motions to suspend the rules and the motion on the changes both passed unanimously. The matter will go into effect in time for this weekend’s events.
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