Memo- Mobile Food VendorsDepartment of Administration
Memorandum
To: Hopkins City Council
From: Jim Genellie
Date: January 21, 2010
Subject: Mobile Food Vendors
Should the City allow mobile food vendors?
The City's experience with Rocky's Weiner Wagon was positive. Rocky Marlow has stated
that he would like to operate in 2010. Staff received only positive comments about his
operation.
Alternatives
Allow mobile food vendors
Do not allow mobile food vendors.
Should the City explicitly limit the number of mobile food vendors?
Staff proposes that any ordinance licensing mobile food vendors would, at a minimum,
require:
• the operator to obtain a Minnesota Department of Health food license
• the cart to meet both State of Minnesota and City of Hopkins criteria
• the operator to maintain a permanent location for cleaning & servicing. The permanent
location must have a Level Three food license.
• the operator to maintain Liability insurance
Rocky's Weiner Wagon met all of these criteria.
Any new vendor would first have to make an agreement with an existing Level Three food
establishment. Although there are 54 licensed Level Three food establishments, many are
small operations which may well not have room for a food cart.
New vendors would have to obtain a State food license and buy or build a cart that meets
State and City regulations. Licensed food establishments in Hopkins might want to obtain
a mobile food vendor license. These establishments would still have to buy or build a cart
that meets State and City regulations.
Alternatives
Limit the number of mobile food vendors
Do not limit the number of mobile food vendors.
%Mobile Food Vendor Memo.doc
Department of Administration
Location restrictions
Where should mobile food vendors be allowed?
Alternatives
Any commercial area
Downtown only
Alternatives
Public property and /or private property
Public property only
Should the City allow vendors to have more than one cart?
Minneapolis, for example, allows vendors to have more than one cart. Each cart must, of
course, meet all of the established mobile food vendor criteria. Minneapolis is large
enough that a vendor having multiple carts would not compete with himself or herself. This
would be more difficult in Hopkins.
Alternatives
Only one cart per licensed vendor
Mobile food vendors may have more than one cart
Minimum Requirements
Mobile food vendors shall obtain a Minnesota Department of Health food license and shall
comply at all times with the applicable health codes and regulations. The mobile food cart
shall comply with the requirements of MN Rules 4626.
Mobile food vendors shall maintain a permanent location within the City of Hopkins for the
storage of food and beverages carried by the lessee's cart, and for the cleaning and
servicing of that cart. Such permanent location shall comply in all respects with the
requirements of Section 600 of the Hopkins City Code, and shall have at least a Level
Three food license. The cart shall return to the permanent location at least once daily for
cleaning and servicing.
Each licensee shall provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of one hundred
thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for individuals, three hundred thousand dollars
($300,000.00) for any single incident and ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for property
damage. A certificate of insurance shall be delivered to the director of licenses and
consumer services prior to issuance of a license. The city shall be named an additional
insured.
Vendors wishing to use City property would still need to complete a property use
agreement.
UNobile Food Vendor Memo.doc