By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com
The Yachats City Council took a pass Wednesday on more regulations of food trucks in the city, deciding that any perceived problems weren’t big enough and that current permits and municipal codes allowed enough control.
The question came up after Drift Inn Restaurant & Motel owner Linda Hetzler asked Mayor John Moore about rumored plans for the former Landmark restaurant property overlooking the Yachats River. There was talk around town, apparently, that it could become a pod for food trucks.
Moore said Hetzler thought that would be unfair to Yachats’ restaurants who have buildings to maintain and pay for, plus meet city requirements for parking and other regulations.
Moore told the council during its online meeting Wednesday that the Landmark’s property owners have been talking to the city about a farm-to-table building squeezed onto the existing foundation. But the idea of an area for food trucks was not feasible, he said, because of parking requirements and other setback issues.
But he used the opportunity to bring up the subject of mobile food trucks in downtown Yachats, especially with the regular visits by Game Thyme street tacos that has been setting up shop once or twice a week in the parking lot of Coastal Homes & Land and Ya-Hots Video near a more regular hot dog stand.
The council was told that current municipal code has restrictions on “mobile vending” and that anyone selling food has to meet those and pay the city’s 5 percent food and beverage tax.
The proliferation of food trucks around Oregon or the West Coast is not a new or unusual issue and their presence has been an issue – both welcomed or restricted – in many places. Moore said a check with mayors around Oregon found as many differences as there are cities.
In Lincoln City, one business created an open space for vendors and a common area to sit and eat, with parking and restrooms. Newport has virtually no restrictions, other than 30-minute limits on trucks catering to seafood workers on the bay front. Waldport has no restrictions – and a popular truck along U.S. Highway 101 and another seasonal truck near its marina.
Councilors Leslie Vaaler and Jim Tooke, who operated restaurants in Alaska and California, suggested a closer look before more food trucks land in Yachats.
“I don’t think you should just say “Let ‘er rip,” said Tooke, suggesting that someone from the council or city staff meet with restaurant owners to hear their concerns more directly. “If you have a restaurant in this town you’ve gone without income for three months. Be aware of the concerns of people in the business.”
But after more back-and-forth any ideas for more work on the potential issue dropped away, other than making sure food trucks had permission of property owners, had parking and paid their taxes.
“I’m fine with regulations as they are without change,” Moore said.
In other business, the council:
- Agreed to have City Manager Shannon Beaucaire talk to TCB Security, which holds the city’s code enforcement contract, to hire security to help with illegal fireworks anticipated in or around Yachats State Park on July 4. The annual fireworks display is not being held this year, but there is concern the park might be a gathering spot for people setting them off on their own. Beaucaire said state parks managers said they don’t have enough staff to patrol the area that night.
- Discussed an appeal by Layne Morrill, developer of the low-income Fisterra Gardens apartments, to waive water bills totaling nearly $21,000 caused by a leak in a pipe fitting in February and March. The normal bill for the 1-year-old complex is $522 a month. The council asked Morrill, who did not attend the meeting, to seek payment first from his contractor or insurance company before asking for a waiver from the city.
- Agreed with Bob Bennett, chair of the Public Works & Streets Commission, that the city should not hold its annual “Clean Sweep” event this year. It’s normally scheduled in late June.
- Heard that planners from the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments in Albany will take over planning duties for the city when the current agreement with contract planner Dave Mattison of Tillamook ends June 30.
- On a 3-2 vote, extended the city’s emergency declaration from May 31 to July 6 to match the state of Oregon’s. Vaaler and Councilor Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessey voted no.
- Was told by Beaucaire that two Yachats businesses had applied and each got $4,000 loans from a city $100,000 loan program managed by Community Lending Works of Springfield to aid businesses struggling during state-mandated closures.