City may relax rules for food trucks, trailers

It's a foodie's dream. A collection of food vendors, assembled in a bustling "pod" on an inner-city lot. Each small-time entrepreneur sells made-from- scratch foods, often for modest prices. Cuisine choices cover the gamut from Mexican to Middle Eastern.

If that sounds appetizing, head to Portland.

City of Salem regulations dating to 1994 ban clusters of food trucks and trailers from gathering on private property. No vending is allowed in the public-right-of-way. And food trucks that call on multiple locations can stay in one spot for no longer than two hours.

"The rules in Salem pretty much make it impossible for most of us to make a living at it," said Richard Foote, a representative of the Salem Food Truck Association. He has a vested interest in seeing food trucks succeed: his Oregon Crepe Company includes a specialty bakery that supplies breads to food vendors.

But Salem may yet catch-up with the street food craze. Salem City Council recently asked city staff to draft an ordinance that would loosen restrictions on food trucks and trailers.

"Council asked us to fast-track this item so we are intending to do that," said Glenn Gross, they city's community development director. The city hopes to have a new ordinance ready by the summer, he said.

Most mobile food vendors in Salem have a second job, or rely on income from a spouse to pay the bills, Foote said. He estimated that about 20 food trucks and trailers operate in Salem.

The only way for several food vendors to gather in one spot, even temporarily, is obtain a special events permit, such those issued for the city's World Beat festival.

" I would love to see a little taste of what Portland's got, or even Eugene," said Chad Lewis, owner of Chad's Smoking Barbecue, a food truck and catering service.

Lewis figures he could be selling more brisket, pulled pork and ribs if Salem its relaxed rules. He sees plenty of potential customers in industrial areas with few nearby restaurants, as well as in Salem's downtown where state employees, Willamette University students and others might want to grab a quick bite.

Since October, Carmen and Minh Nguyen have ran "Fusion Semi-Authentic Vietnamese Foods." Finding places to park their food truck, however, has been an obstacle.

For example, the couple once did a good business selling curry rice bowls and Vietnamese sandwiches in the parking lot of a Salem shopping center. But restaurants in the shopping center soon complained to the landlord about the competition. Fusion, which was initially invited to the location, had to leave.

"It was really unfortunate. It was a fun place to be," Carmen Nguyen said.

The Fusion food truck has been making the rounds to local taphouse and breweries, and the Nguyens have made it a full-time business.

In December, Salem City Councilor Diana Dickey first brought up the idea of easing restrictions the city's restriction on food trucks and trailers. Since then, Dickey has received several dozen emails and calls from Salem residents about the subject.

Only one of commenters, who sent a note anonymously, objected to Dickey's push to revise the city's rules, she said. In essence, the anonymous complaint asserted that mobile food vendors were unfair competition. Food trucks and trailers are known for having low overhead costs compared to standard restaurants.

Could Salem eventually have something akin to Cartlandia, a prominent spot for food carts along Southeast 82nd Avenue in Portland?

The the only way to answer that question, Foote said, is for the city to give food trucks and carts a reasonable chance to succeed.

mrose@StatesmanJournal .com (503) 399-6657 or follow on Twitter @mrose_sj

Obstacles.

What's holding back food truck busineses in Salem? The Salem Food Truck Association wants several city rules to change:

• Remove distance rules, which now require a 500 foot separation between food trucks and carts parked on the same side of the street.

• Eliminate the six month time limit for food trucks and trailers parked on private property.

• Allow trucks to vend on public land and public- right-of-ways "with due consideration for traffic safety and common sense."

Source: Salem Food Truck Association.