Hazleton City Council adopts relaxed regulations for mobile food establishments

Apr. 15—Food truck operators in Hazleton spoke and city council listened.

Council on Wednesday adopted relaxed regulations for mobile food service establishments that allow food trucks and other mobile vendors to conduct sales from a stationary location for up to eight hours over the course of a day and move their vehicles every 12 hours.

The relaxed regulations passed 4-1, with Councilman Jack Mundie casting the lone "no" vote.

Council tweaked the time frames after hearing concerns from at least nine audience members who said a previous ordinance that required mobile food vendors to move every two hours would hurt business and create safety issues for vendors who work with hot oil.

In addition to citing safety concerns for food vendors, city resident Nicarol Soto told council that some residents and business owners were confused by efforts from the city to update definitions of "non-permanent" and "permanent" locations — and were of the impression that they would have to transition to a traditional business with a foundation and utilities.

After that misunderstanding was resolved, concern shifted to time restrictions for remaining stationary, she said.

"Having them moved (more frequently) puts them at very high risk," Soto said. "They work with hot oil that is 150 to 200 degrees Celsius. I know not any of you would want to put lives in danger, especially at a time of pandemic."

Audience member and local physician Robert Childs said that when considering the COVID-19 pandemic, people who patronize food trucks can benefit from ordering food and social distancing outdoors.

From a health standpoint, Childs said that food trucks offer a certain level of transparency, as customers can watch their food being prepared.

Vianney Castro, president of the local Spanish Business Association, told council that mobile food vendors have a greater chance of getting into accidents if they are required to move more frequently, while Louis Polanco said that food truck drivers would have a more difficult time getting insured if they have to move more often.

"Without insurance, they can't really have a business license," Polanco said. "Families rely on that income."

Council President Jim Perry told the audience that efforts to enforce the ordinance or discuss amendments were not intended to hurt businesses and families.

Councilwoman Lauren Sacco suggested extending a two-hour limit for selling items from a stationary location to eight hours each day and changing part of the ordinance that requires the trucks to move every 12 hours instead of two hours, as previously required.

That route gives vendors two hours to set up, eight hours to sell items, and two hours to close, she said.

Councilwoman Allison Barletta suggested making the relaxed ordinance become effective immediately, rather than a previously proposed 30-day period.

Mayor Jeff Cusat offered to sign the relaxed ordinance Thursday.

Contact the writer: sgalski@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3586