TCC approves Mobile Food Truck Ordinance

The Toccoa City Commission met on Monday to consider a Mobile Food Truck Ordinance.

The Ordinance for Mobile Food Venders was previously discussed by the City Commission however no action was taken at that time.

According to City Manager Billy Morse, the Food Truck Ordinance was drafted because there is no ordinance regulating food trucks within the city limits.

“The draft Ordinance requires the state mandated use of a commissary for the safe preparation and handling of items to be sold on all food trucks, it also requires food trucks to remain up to Georgia Code. It clarifies where food trucks may operate within the city limits. Staff is recommending a fee of $200 for food trucks and $100 for ice cream trucks. The Planning Commission and the Downtown Development Authority have both reviewed the Food Truck Ordinance and recommend approval,” he said.

Vice Mayor Jeanette Jamieson asked about the insurance the city requires the Mobile Food Venders to carry.

“Billy, do we charge a million-dollar liability insurance for brick and mortar locations that serve food” she asked?

“That’s not a license requirement,” City Clerk Fredda Wheeler said.

“It’s not a requirement? Well, it is in here, I was a little bit concerned. I want them to be regulated and I want them to have to have a license, because it’s not fair for them to come in and make money off of people here, when other folks are trying to stay in business all the time,” Jamieson said.

Commissioner Terry Carter agreed with Jamieson, saying he felt like if the city’s restaurants weren’t required to carry the same amount of insurance coverage, then it wouldn’t be fair to ask the food truck venders to.

“Mayor, I know that the last time we discussed this, I shared Commissioner Jamieson’s concern. I don’t think it’s fair to require it here, if we don’t require it for other restaurants to get a license. I would think that the Health Department would regulate them as needed for exposure and liability and so forth,” he said.

Commissioner Gail Fry said she thought the difference between restaurants and mobile food venders was because one is a vehicle.

“I’m sure their vehicle itself has to have all this insurance,” she said.

“A million-dollars liability,” Jamieson asked?

“No, I don’t mean…That’s what I’m saying, aside from what we would do, generally they would have to have liability already. I’m sure they have to have some kind of insurance to do that,” Fry explained.

Jamieson made a motion approving the ordinance after the City Attorney checks on state requirements for food trucks to carry a certain amount of insurance coverage.

Fry seconded the motion.

The motion was approved unanimously.

The Commission waived the second reading of the ordinance.