Final Adopted Ordinance

Effective Date: February 7, 2013

Public Hearings

PLANNING COMMISSION

• Monday, November 26, 2012 at 8 p.m.
• Staff Report (without Attachment E)
• Attachment E Part 1 and Part 2
• Watch meeting here

CITY COUNCIL

• Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, September 6 at 7 p.m.
• Report To Council 12-304 (City Council web page)
• Watch meeting here

Final Food Truck Survey Results as of December 14, 2012

What is a food truck?

A food truck is a vehicle from which food is sold, typically from a take-out counter built into the vehicle. Well-known examples include the ice cream truck and the taco truck.

Why is the city studying this?

Food trucks are not a new concept, but they are gaining popularity and changing the way they have traditionally operated, from advertising through social media to selling unique gourmet dishes. In the past, food trucks would drive into an area; sell food within 10 minutes and move on to another location. Trends today include food trucks selling from one location during lunch and dinner hours and holding special events where several different food trucks meet at one location in a prepared-food type of farmers market.

The City has received a lot of questions both from food truck owners and the general public about how these food trucks can operate within the City, on private property and on the public street. The City has also received complaints about food trucks negatively impacting existing businesses, especially “brick and mortar” restaurants. Because the City does not currently have clear food truck operation regulations that can fully address traffic, noise and other safety concerns (see below for current regulations), the City Council directed staff to study this issue and develop possible options and recommendations for regulating them on both private property and the public street. Click here for more information on the Council Study Issues for 2012. 

What are the current City regulations?

• Public Parks: Sunnyvale Municipal Code 9.62.070 (f) (Conduct - Prohibited acts.) and Sunnyvale Municipal Code 9.62.080 (Merchandising, advertising and signs - Prohibited acts.) 
• Public Street: Sunnyvale Municipal Code 10.16.180 (Unlawful parking.)
• Private Property (typically parking lots): The Zoning Code allows consideration of unenclosed (not within a building) permitted or conditionally permitted uses in commercial and industrial zoning districts through a conditional use permit reviewed at a public hearing.
• Special Events: Any event that may bring large groups of community members together requires a Special Event Permit.
• Business License: All businesses must obtain a City Business License. Payment of a business license tax and issuance of a Business License does not constitute permission by the City to conduct an activity. The business owner is required to comply with all applicable federal, state or City regulations and obtain all required permits.

Public Outreach

Staff held meetings to gather input from the public about the study. It is important to gather different points of view to identify appropriate food truck location and operation requirements.

Outreach Meeting	Date, Time & Place	Meeting Materials
Planning Open House	Thursday, September 6, 2012 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Laurel Room, Senior Center 550 E. Remington Dr.	Planning Open House Flyer
Meeting for the general public	Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Neighborhood Room, Community Center 550 E. Remington Dr.	Outreach meeting flyer  Slide Presentation For meeting summary, see City Manager's Update May 31, 2012.

Planning Commission Study Sessions
August 6, 2012 For meeting summary, see City Manager’s Update August 9, 2012.
September 10, 2012