ANNA MARIA – City officials have designated a food truck parking zone at the northwest end of Bayfront Park.
A concrete or stone-covered food truck parking area will be created near the
city sandbagging area that is accessed from Hibiscus Street. If needed, the sandbagging area will be relocated in that same vicinity.
The city commission tentatively approved this location when discussing on first reading a new city ordinance, Ordinance 22-902, that specifies where food trucks can operate within the city. The city ordinance was drafted in response to state legislation adopted in 2020 that prohibits municipalities from banning food truck operations citywide.
The new ordinance is scheduled for final adoption on Thursday, Aug. 25.
The need for a food truck ordinance was first discussed during the commission’s July 28 meeting. At that time, Mayor Dan Murphy said the lack of a food truck ordinance could potentially result in food trucks operating anywhere in the city and close to local restaurants.
During the July 28 meeting, City Attorney Becky Vose said the food truck restrictions need to be reasonable in the eyes of the state and cannot consist of a single food truck parking space.
During an Aug. 11 meeting, Murphy presented a plan for a 20-foot-wide, 90-foot-long area that can accommodate at least four food trucks at a time, depending on how they park. According to Murphy’s presentation, the average food truck is 16 feet long and 7 feet wide.
Murphy noted the proposed location, although somewhat off the beaten path, is in a city-owned, county-maintained park where people often gather to eat. He said the food truck area could also be easily accessed by nearby landscapers and construction workers during their lunch breaks.
Murphy said he considered alternative locations in the parking spaces by the Bayfront Park restrooms or in the parking spaces at the other end of the park by the humpback bridge. He also considered a location near The Center of Anna Maria Island, but none of those locations seemed as ideal as the location he proposed.
Murphy said any food trucks that attempt to operate outside the designated food truck zone would be subject to enforcement by the city’s code enforcement department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Jon Crane noted the proposed food truck zone is near his home, but he said he was “willing to take one for the team.”
During public input, local chef Ezio Piccione asked about the allowed hours of operation.
Murphy said food trucks would be allowed to operate in that designated location from dawn to dusk.
Piccione also asked if the city took into consideration the generator noise produced by food trucks. Murphy said generator noise is already addressed in the city’s noise ordinance; and if generator-related noise complaints are made, sheriff’s deputies can use their discretion to determine if a noise violation is occurring.
Murphy said it’s better to address noise, trash and other concerns through the city’s existing code of ordinances rather than specifically target food trucks with new city legislation, which the state might frown upon.
Dr. John Cella lives across the street from Bayfront Park. He said given the circumstances, the proposed location provides a reasonable solution. Cella also said he was glad to see the commission and mayor being proactive rather than reactive in addressing potential food truck concerns.
At the suggestion of Commission Chair Carol Carter, Murphy said the proposed ordinance would be revised to specifically address hours of operation and the maximum number of food trucks allowed.
The food truck ordinance will be reviewed by the city’s planning and zoning board on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
