More food trucks and carts could soon be popping up at a handful of locations in Coquitlam.
On Monday, council voted to support a street vending bylaw that would see up to 10 licences issued mainly in the City Centre area. A staff report noted that six businesses have already expressed an interest in operating in Coquitlam.
Two licences would be issued for trucks to operate in front of Douglas College's David Lam Campus on Pinetree Way, two more across the street on Pinetree next to Town Centre Park and another pair would be issued for vendors on Glen Drive. Four licences would be designated for yet to be determined locations suggested by the vendors themselves and chosen at city staff's discretion.
Council was far from unanimous in its support for the Street Vending Bylaw, with councillors Craig Hodge, Lou Sekora, Chris Wilson and Bonita Zarrillo voting against the initiative. All four said they were concerned about food vendors hurting existing eateries in a neighbourhood that is already struggling to attract restaurants.
"If our businesses in that area are not doing great now in terms of food services, is there any concern that we are adding more competition to an area that is not doing so well?" Wilson asked.
He noted that food trucks and street vendors tend to do better in areas with a high employment base, like downtown Vancouver, rather than neighbourhoods like City Centre, which is predominantly made up of residential towers.
But Coun. Terry O'Neill disagreed, noting that street vendors would likely attract a different type of customer. Someone looking to stand in line for a quick sandwich or a slice of pizza is paying for a different experience than sitting in a restaurant, he said.
"I think they are adding to the economy," he said of the food vendors. "It is not a fixed pie, it is a pie that is actually growing."
In May 2013, Coquitlam's first mobile food truck - This Little Piggy - launched in front of Douglas College, serving breakfast sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, burgers and chicken tacos.
A staff report updating council after the first year of the street vending program suggested a few tweaks to the original bylaw.
For example, licensing costs for street vendors and food trucks were initially set for $110 flat fee plus $25 for every square foot of space used, which worked out to an average fee of $2,500. Staff suggested a flat rate of $1,000 plus any lost parking revenue, which is closer to what other cities charge.
Stephanie James, the city's acting manager of legal and bylaws, said staff envisions a situation where food vendors would operate year round, not just in the summer months. She also noted that the four open-ended licences would give vendors an opportunity to pick locations the city may not have considered.
