Council discusses food truck permits

The Red Oak City Council is continuing discussions on the possibility of a franchise tax for gas and electric utilities.
At the regular Red Oak City Council meeting April 3, the council was given a list of 199 Iowa communities that have incorporated a franchise fee for gas services, electrical services, or in the majority cases, both. Council Person Brian Bills suggested seeing if the communities had other franchise fees for services.
Tim Fridolph suggested reaching out to a smaller list of similar size communities to Red Oak rather than seeking out an entire list.
Council Person Jeanice Lester was still weighing the potential public opinion as the option was considered.
“I’ll be interested to see how many come to our public hearing and seeing how they feel about this. I’ve been researching myself, and I haven’t heard a lot of opposition at this point,” Lester said. “If we end up doing something like this, I’d rather it be the same number. If it were a 3% decision, I would hope that we would keep it the same across the board.
Bills said the opinions he’d received were more of a mixed bag, but more were in favor than against imposing the fee. Shenandoah and Griswold were among the neighboring communities that had implemented franchise fees.
Bills said with projected revenues going down, due to some state bills that are providing property tax relief, the city needed to do something.
“We’re going to have to make up some revenue somewhere, or cut services somewhere. I don’t see where we’re going to have a choice,” Bills said.
No further action was taken.
The council also heard comments from Melinda Snipes, who was speaking to a proposed ordinance on the council agenda amending the code of ordinances for Red Oak regarding mobile food vendors. Snipes said she wanted to address two items on the ordinance, specifically citizens versus non-residents, and public versus private property.
“We run out of a business, but also out of our food truck. I understand there needs to be some sort of a rule or ordinance where people can check in and the city can know they’re going to be there and that they’re legal. But keep in mind, if you are a licensed food truck, you are inspected for safety, you have insurance, and pay property and sales taxes, everything a brick and mortar business does, just in a mobile location,” Snipes said.
Snipes wanted the council to keep in mind that they want to bring options to Red Oak, grow the community, and having a different place to eat is a way to do so. Also, one of the mobile food truck owners they are friends with is looking at Red Oak for a brick and mortar location.
“Just because they’re here to visit, doesn’t mean they won’t become a full-time business addition to our community,” said Snipes.
Bills asked Snipes if there was anything in particular that she took issue with in the proposed ordinance. Snipes said one issue for her in particular was food truck owners who were residents of Red Oak being treated differently than someone coming from out of town or out of state.
“If you’re a resident here, you’re already paying your dues to be here, as opposed to someone coming to the town to get money, and then taking off again without contributing to the town itself,” commented Snipes.
Snipes said as for public and private ground, there was language in the ordinance preventing set-up on a vacant lot. Snipes said last summer, their food truck set up on the vacant lot at Coolbaugh Street and Broadway and had planned to do so again.
“We have written permission from the owner, we carry all the permits, and we are licensed for safety, and have all the food permits. I think it would be good to at least be registered with the city so the city can know who’s there, what they’re doing, and why they’re here, but I ask that you be considerate of people who live in town,” commented Snipes.
The Teeny Weeny Wiener Wagon, Snipes said, is licensed through the State of Iowa.
“They do a full inspection to make sure the trailer’s safe, and that you meet all food standards and have thermometers, hand sanitizer, and safety equipment, like a fire extinguisher.  That inspection is done once per year, and they can do random inspections at any time, without notice,” explained Snipes.
The council then discussed the proposed ordinance amending the city code of ordinances of the City of Red Oak by adding a new chapter 124 for mobile food vendors. After hearing public comments, Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius felt a few things could be modified or added.
The council was in unanimous agreement. The council voted to table action on the resolution until changes could be made.
The council also approved the appointment of Mike Vega to the Historical Preservation Commission.