It took two votes for the Guthrie city council to decide on how much space is needed for mobile food vendors, who do not pay for space during special events, from the approved event.
Representatives of an event have requested that the City of Guthrie consider adopting the geographic restrictions for mobile food service establishments. The ordinance would restrict mobile food vendors from operating within a specified distance from the location of an event issued an exclusive use permit by the City. It includes the use of streets and/or public property during the time specified from the start through completion of the event unless they are an authorized vendor for the event.
Special events (approved by the City) such as 89ers, Red Brick Nights and Territorial Christmas.
Following a 14 minute discussion, the council ultimately voted (5-1) for a distance of 300 feet (approximately a city block) for unapproved food vendors of the special event. The Geographic Restriction (Section 5-133) was added to the City of Guthrie Ordinance No. 3307.
Councilmember Brian Bothroyd made the motion of 150 feet, but with a vote of 3-3 the motion failed. Council members Sharyl Padgett, Jeff Taylor and Bothroyd votes yes, while Mayor Steve Gentling, John Wood and Gaylord Z. Thomas voted no.
“If I am setting up a hot dog stand and paying x amount of dollars to the event and there’s another hot dog stand that’s setup and not paying anything, I don’t think that enough of a deterrent,” Gentling said before the vote.
Gentling added, “If you’re paying to an event, I think you would like to have as much distance as possible from your competitor.”
After discussion with the City attorney on whether a second motion could be made, Wood made a motion of 300 feet and received five yes votes with Bothroyd casting the lone no vote.
The distance is measured from the nearest point of the targeted activity property to the nearest point of the vehicle/vendor.
City Manager Leroy Alsup says they contacted several cities and those who had a similar ordinance had distances ranging from 150 to 300 feet.
Currently mobile vendors must obtain a $75 permit from the City to operate.
You can view the ordinance by clicking here.
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