WELLINGTON NORTH – Food truck vendors need to be licensed through the township and staff will be reminding local chambers of commerce and the Mount Forest fireworks festival to ensure participating vendors are in compliance with the requirement.
The township issued its first food truck licence last year, despite the rule first being put on the books in 2016.
The township hasn’t really bothered with enforcement because it doesn’t have the capacity. But that’s since changed with the township entering into a bylaw enforcement agreement with the City of Guelph that took effect last month.
With food truck vendors adhering to the $100 annual licence requirement, the township anticipates receiving up to an additional $800 in annual licensing revenue.
Service clubs and not-for-profits operating food stands are recommended for exemption from the licensing fee, but would still need to obtain a licence by showing proof of fire suppression, insurance, health inspection and a driver’s licence.
Staff are proposing an amendment to the township’s business licensing bylaw with the goal of reducing red tape in the licensing process by no longer requiring Wellington North-specific documentation.
That means fire inspections can come from any fire department in the province and health inspections can come from any public health unit.
The current bylaw will also be amended to specify exemptions for Wellington North farmers’ market vendors because they already pay a fee and submit health unit information through the market’s process.
Councillor Sherry Burke asked for clarification on whether the township was expecting food truck vendors participating in the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival to fork out a licensing fee in addition to the fee required by the festival – which includes submitting proof of insurance and health inspection, according to Burke.
“If you’ve got a food truck, you need to be licensed,” Wallace said, confirming Burke’s interpretation.
But Burke questioned whether it was wise to add another fee for vendors to attend events like the fireworks festival, suggesting it could hinder vendor turnout with fees approaching $250 all-in.
She also pointed out Arthur’s approaching 150th anniversary and whether food truck vendors would be a part of the anticipated summertime celebration.
Township economic development officer Dale Small said he believes vendors having to get licenced is a “really good thing” but he considers the fireworks festival to be unique in charging food truck vendors a fee to participate.
“We don’t need to charge another fee, if the fireworks festival is charging a fee then they’re getting charged,” Small remarked, but he said vendors should still be “officially licensed” by the township.
“We could work that out,” he said, suggesting council proclaim municipally significant events that would be exempt from the licensing fee.
CAO Mike Givens suggested waiving the fee and added to the discussion, pointing out that council could waive it if it wanted to.
Wallace asked for a resolution from council directing staff to waive the $100 licensing fee for food truck vendors related to municipality significant events and council passed a motion as amended with Wallace’s suggestion.
A lawyer will review the proposed amendments and staff will return a revised bylaw to council for approval.
