Food truck ordinance killed in Metro Council

Wednesday evening, the Metro Council rejected a proposed ordinance that would have imposed regulations on Baton Rouge food truck vendors, including rules on where and when they could park their mobile restaurants. The ordinance proved controversial, as some vendors claimed it was “legislation for the sake of legislation.” Councilman Rodney “Smokie” Bourgeois, who proposed the ordinance, said he was trying to protect business owners from lawsuits. Ultimately, Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Walker moved to remove the item from the council’s agenda, killing it. Nick Hufft, spokesman for the Baton Rouge Mobile Food Vendors association, said that the result is a win, but while he’s happy with it, he believes the proposed ordinance is “just the beginning.” “We need to sit down with our local brick and mortar [businesses] and figure out ways we can self-govern and coexist in a way that satisfies everyone,” he said. “In a way, I feel it was good that this issue was brought up. Los Angeles, New York, Austin, Washington, D.C.—these cities have proven that brick and mortar restaurants and food trucks can coexist. The next step for Baton Rouge is figuring out how to make that work for all of us.” Councilman Bourgeois, however, says he has no current plans to sit down with vendors or propose further ordinances. “The other cities that have food trucks, they also have rules and regulations in place as to what the trucks can and can’t do. … We need to have rules in place to protect businesses. I feel like that time is coming. But I don’t have plans to pursue that, not at this time.” —Rachael Upton