Changes made to food truck law and venue fees

PLATTSBURGH | On April 15 at the Common Council meeting a local law was adopted by the council. This law renamed, amended, and restated the Chapter 254 "Peddling and Soliciting" of the City Code. The law was renamed "Food Trucks". The changes to the law were very minor. One of the more significant changes was that previously food trucks and food carts weren't allowed to sell alcohol. This is no longer the case, now with a license from New York State Liquor Authority for the specific location of the sale or dispensation and a permit from New York State Liquor Authority which must be provided to the city clerk and displayed on the food truck or food cart, alcohol may be sold and dispensed. Permits were also a significant change. Before only an annual permit could be bought for food trucks and food carts, now vendors have the option between an annual, seasonal, or monthly permit. The annual permit runs from January 1 to December 31 and will not be prorated. Seasonal permits can be issued for any six consecutive months but will expire automatically at the end of any calendar year. Monthly permits will start on the first day of any month and will expire at the end of every calendar month. The payment period for the permits was updated to include annual, seasonal, and monthly periods. Annual permits cost $725, seasonal permits cost $545, while monthly permits cost $98. Both the adoption of the law, and the amended fee structure for food carts and food trucks were voted on and approved during the meeting. This wasn't the only fee structure that changed during the April 15 meeting. The fee structure for venue rentals was also voted on. The city noted that a lot of research was put in to make sure the adjusted fees were reasonable and fair. Gazebos cost $50 per day, the Beach lawn is $200 per day, City Hall auditorium or chambers are $100 per day, a utility fee for electric or water is $20 per day, the Portable Stage is $500 per event, Harborside Stage is $100 per day, BMI/ASCAP licensing is $50 per event, Trailer Stage is $500 per day, cones are $2 per cone per event, a Barricade and Garbage Cans are $5 per cone/can per event, Garbage Bag Removal is $5 per bag, and EMS/Police/Security is labor cost per hour. While the resolution did pass, Councilwoman Tallon objected saying the price change from $200 to $500 was too high. Mayor Rosenquest objected saying the change in price reflected that fact that the city would now move the Trailer Stage for the renter, where in the past the renter would have to move it on their own dime. The increased fee would also help pay for the repairs that need to be done, and despite the tentative price change the city already had several interested parties in renting it. The votes for this resolution came to a tie so Mayor Rosenquest stepped in to cast the tiebreaker, voting in favor of the resolution.

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Changes made to food truck law and venue fees

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