Amendments to City Code Chapter 6, Section 600 Food and Food establishments and 610 Swimming pools40200, 1 City Clerk
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Kris Luedke, City Clerk
Copy: Mike Mornson, City Manager
Date: May 14, 2013
Subject: Amendments to City Code Chapter 6, Section 600 -Food and Food Establishments
and 610 -Swimming Pools
The purpose of this discussion is to provide information in preparation for an upcoming agenda
item requiring Council approval. Staff proposes to amend Chapter 6 section 600—Food and Food
Establishments and 610—Swimming of the City Code to reflect current Environmental
Health business licensing delegations while retaining language to continue with the licensing of
mobile food carts. As the proposed amendment moves forward, would Council be interested in
adding language to section 600 regarding the use of Mobile Food Vehicles in the City of
Hopkins?
Background
Effective January of 2012, Hennepin County began providing Environmental Health services for
the City of Hopkins. Amendments to the city code would be a housekeeping item reflecting the
changes which have occurred. Proposed amendments would include deleting section 610—
Swimming Pools in its entirety. The proposed amendment for section 600—Food and Food
Establishment would delete all but the section on mobile food cart vendors which was adopted in
2010.
City staff received an inquiry regarding the use of a mobile food vehicle in the city. A brief
discussion occurred at the April 9 work session regarding the inquiry and staff was asked to
contact the food truck owner for further details.
Staff found that other cities are reviewing their ordinance in regards to mobile food vehicles as
more inquires are received. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, food trucks are not considered a zoning
issue. They are considered a right-of-way issue. In St. Paul, they park in metered public parking
spots and pay a fee that covers lot meter revenue. Minneapolis requires a license and allows them
as a temporary use, such as the farmers market. They have specific locations where food vendors
may be located, including a separation from events and park property.
If Council would like to add language regarding the use of mobile food vehicles in the city, staff
would recommend a separate mobile food vending ordinance.
1010 First Street South
Hopkins, MN 55343
Memo
May 14, 2013
Page
Our current city ordinance addresses mobile food cart vendors. The transient merchant section
allows mobile vending of goods but it does not address a mobile vendor like a food truck that is
in a stationary location for several hours and different locations on different days.
The proposed ordinance would need to address the following issues:
A. Specify where and when food trucks and mobile vendors may locate in the city. Staff would
propose parking locations that do not interfere with traffic or create a pedestrian safety issue.
B. Define mobile vending to include food trucks and non-food items being sold out of a vehicle
or trailer.
C. Provide for performance standards, such as hours of operation, signage, storage of trucks in
the city, etc.
D. Establish a reasonable annual fee.
E. Requirements for Department of Health and/or Agriculture license information.
Staff will prepare amends to Chapter 6 section 600—Food and Food Establishments and 610=
Swimminiz Pools to reflect past changes to the food and swimming pool licensing delegation.
The draft ordinance would be reviewed by the City Attorney. If directed, staff could add
provisions in a separate ordinance for mobile food vehicles at that time.
Attachments:
Except from the April 9, 2013 Work Session minutes
Memo
May 14, 2013
Page
Food Truck Discussion
Mr. Genellie said there has been an inquiry for a food truck to operate on Friday evenings on
Mainstreet in front of the Hopkins Tavern.
There was much Council discussion regarding food trucks. The consensus was that any food
truck should be locate in the Clock Tower Plaza are not in front of a particular business.
Staff will contact the food truck owner for details on desired location.