Athens City Council members discussed ordinances during their Monday meeting that would promote local businesses by protecting food vendors and removing parking fees for the holiday season.
The city currently provides two classes of permits for food truck vendors.
The current Class A permits provide fulltime spots for vendors and cost $1,200. Class B permits allow for 20 days of vending and require the vendors to pay the meters and a $75 dollar processing fee.
Councilman Steve Patterson, D-At Large, proposed several changes to the city’s food truck policy to promote food venders in Athens while simultaneously making the system fairer for existing vendors.
If his proposed ordinance passed, Class A permits would cost $1,500 a year, which is $300 dollars less than feeding the meter.
Class B permit holders — who are new to vending in Athens — would pay a flat rate of $750 dollars to use a permanent space whenever they want.
If they decide to continue their business into the next year, their rate will increase by 75 percent for the second year, after which vendors can apply for a Class A permit.
“This makes things more fair for the food industry in Ohio,” Patterson said. “This will stimulate growth and competition in the city.”
Jay Wamsley, owner of Not Guilty, a food truck on Union Street, voiced his full support for the ordinance.
“I think this seems like a reasonable proposal, and I would encourage you to pass the ordinance,” Wamsley said. “Food carts are a growing thing around the country.”
Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-At Large, proposed an ordinance to suspend parking fees in the Municipal Parking Garage for parts of the holiday season again this year.
From Nov. 23 to Dec. 16, there will be free parking Wednesday evenings and all day Saturdays. From Dec. 17 to Jan. 1, there will be free parking in the garage every day.
“I hope it will boost business Uptown,” Gosney said. “It’s a small thing we can do to make sure people shop locally.”
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