A new ordinance that expands Lincoln’s food truck ordinance was a full-circle moment for City Councilwoman Tammy Ward at her last meeting Monday.
The council unanimously approved the ordinance that will allow food vendors to operate for up to four hours in residential neighborhoods and in designated areas downtown.
Expanding the food truck program in Lincoln was one of the first issues Ward championed after her election four years ago — and the result was two pilot programs and, finally, an ordinance.
Ward didn’t run for reelection, and new council members were sworn in shortly after five veteran council members voted. Outgoing council members Michelle Suarez and Richard Meginnis were absent.
Hallie Salem, redevelopment manager with the city’s urban development department, thanked Ward last week during a public hearing on the proposed ordinance.
“We started talking about this 10-15 years ago,†she said. “It’s been a long time in the making and we really needed a champion in this.â€
The food truck program began in 2011, and until the pilot programs began, truck vendors who wanted to operate downtown either had to get permission from private property owners or go through a time-consuming process of applying for a special event permit.
Ward was elected in 2019, and that fall the city began a pilot program to let food trucks operate in designated areas downtown. The pilot was postponed when the pandemic hit and brought back in the spring of 2022, then extended until winter.
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Also in 2022, the city began a pilot to let food trucks operate in residential neighborhoods.
The final ordinance approved Monday incorporates much of what city officials set up for the pilot programs, as well incorporating things they learned, Salem told the council during the public hearing.
The ordinance expands the time food trucks can be in residential neighborhoods from 10 minutes to four hours — with permission of the adjacent homeowner.
The ordinance also allows food trucks in designated downtown areas, although they must stay 300 feet away from a bricks-and-mortar restaurant, unless the owner gives them permission to be closer.
Initial worries that food trucks would compete with downtown restaurants hasn’t happened, and those brick-and-mortar restaurants see it as a partnership, Ward said.
Salem said city officials learned a lot about the reservation and permitting process and some changes were made, such as requiring at least a two-day notice from vendors so they have time to cover the parking meters.
The ordinance also spells out the state’s definition of “ready to eat†food by which vendors must abide, and eliminates the need for background checks, which were too cumbersome, Salem said.
A new food truck gathering spot behind Tavern on the Square and The Other Room in the Haymarket.
Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
Rebecca Rager greets her grandfather Alfred Zieg (from left) during a celebration before his birthday on Wednesday, in the Gramercy dining room on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at The Residence at Gramercy in Lincoln. 'It has been a life for sure," Alfred Zieg said during the celebration. "And on Wednesday I get to start all over again, right?"
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Muggs, a 6 year-old chocolate lab soars through the air chasing after a toy as he dives from the dock to the water following his dive on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Paws 4 Fun in Lincoln. The diving event is part of the North America Diving Dogs (NADD) competition. Five judges rate each dog on the distance they jump to where their tail breaks the waters surface.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Rider Sheila Ross shoots balloon targets on her horse, “Two ID Jet Mack†with a time of 15.828 seconds for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association Championship at Lancaster Event Center on Friday. The event continues until Sunday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Gavin Gerch hits a ball at the 18th hole during the Class A state golf tournament Wednesday at Norfolk Country Club.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
Fifth graders wave to the camera during the LPS day baseball game on, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Lincoln.
HAYDEN ROONEY Journal Star
Kloefkorn Elementary School students and teachers walk through nearby neighborhoods for the annual Kloefkornucopia Parade to honor the past year's students and the school's namesake on Monday, May 22, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen kisses newborn Gemma Pond of Lincoln at the signing ceremony of LB574Â on Monday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Brady's Dillion Miller (right) celebrates after finishing first in the class D 100 meter dash final on the fourth day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Lutheran's Logan Lebo celebrates as he crosses the finish line during the class C boys 800 meter final on the fourth day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln East's Troy Peltz (2) celebrates with Landon Sandy (16) and others after his throw to home plate retired the potential game-winning run in the Class A championship game Friday at Tal Anderson Field.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
D Mack and Billie Douglass of Lincoln console each other after senators passed a bill limiting gender-affirming care and abortion in Nebraska. Hundreds of protesters again gathered in the Rotunda on Friday for votes on the bill.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln Northeast's Laney Songster and Lincoln Pius X's Kate Campos leap over hurdles during the Class A girls 100-meter hurdles final at the state track and field meet Thursday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Blair's Myles Jackson reacts after he sets a record in the Class B boys 100 meter dash final at the state track and field meet Thursday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
They Might Be Giant's trombonist Dan Levine, trumpet player Mark Pender and saxophonist Stan Harrison play together during a live performance on Sunday at the Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Wayne's Laura Hasemann is photographed through a bush of flowers as she rounds the far corner of the track during the girls 4x800 meter relay on the first day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Norfolk's Jackson Bos prepares to throw during shot put warmups on the first day of the 2023 state track and field championships on Wednesday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Omaha Skutt players celebrate against Norris during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Wahoo's Conor Booth (14) is called out at third base after trying to steal against Elkhorn's Ryan Ellison (left)Â during a Class B state baseball game Saturday at Werner Park.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
The ball sails just over Omaha Duchesne's Claire Niehaus, who is defended by Norris' Nicole Keetle (left) and Clare Macklin (right) in the second half of a Class B state semifinal Saturday in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Elkhorn South's Cole Eaton celebrates after scoring a triple in the sixth inning during the Class A boys state baseball tournament, Friday, May 12, 2023, at Werner Park in Papillion.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lacey Eddy (right), Scottish Rite Educator of the Year, embraces kindergarten students, including Reina Schomaker (left), after she was honored at an announcement ceremony Friday at Hartley Elementary.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Creighton Prep's Thomas Pisasale (3) hits a back flip while being cheered on by Max Matthies (7) and Jack Johnson (11) after scoring the go-ahead goal against Lincoln Southwest during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Omaha Duchesne's Sophie Owens (left) looks to pass to an open teammate during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln fighter Andrew Huffman is stuck in the face by Kwajuan Mensah during their bout in Dynasty Combat Sport's Annual Spring Brawl on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Bennington's Ethan Korth (from left) and Conestoga's Kaden Simmerman and Rowdy Watson compete for the ball during the Class B boys state soccer tournament, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest runs to celebrate after defeating Lincoln Pius X in a penalty kick shootout at the Class A girls state soccer tournament Tuesday in Omaha.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Angel Arellanes (right) and Papillion-La Vista South's Brodie Anderson (16) clash during the Class A boys state soccer tournament Monday in Omaha.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
Mid-Plains Community College's Casey Reis gets shaken off during a bull-riding event for the Cornhusker College Rodeo at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Conestoga's Pelayo Biagioni lifts Jayden Widler on his shoulders to celebrate a 3-2 shootout win against Norris in the B-8 district championship on Saturday in Firth.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Kristin Syde carries her niece Margot Wyrick, 1, as she runs with her daughter Anna Syde, 6, during the Mayor's Run Saturday at the state Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Wahoo/BN/LL's players celebrate after defeating Waverly in the B-2 District final at Sam Crawford Field on Friday in Wahoo.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest players take turns kissing the A-2 District championship plaque after defeating Elkhorn South on Thursday at Seacrest Field.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Lincoln East JV's Reid Voog loses his grip on his golf club after driving the ball from the sixth hole tee box during the LPS Boys Golf Championship on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Cars drive across a bridge along North 27th street, as a low water level measuring around 2.0 ft reveals the creek bed underneath, one year before on the same date the water level was measuring nearly 4 ft, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in Lincoln. Drought conditions have gotten so bad in Lancaster County that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared it a disaster area. This most recent announcement expands drought disaster designations to more than two-thirds of the state's counties. Last month, the department designated 55 counties as primary disaster areas.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln City Council candidate Tom Duden (right) embraces his wife Ronda Duden (center), along with his brother-in-law Rob Treptow at a Republican election night watch party Tuesday at Rosie's Downtown.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Adam Morefeld is hugged by Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird as she enters an election night party for Democrats on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the DelRay Ballroom in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
An excavator works to clear debris from the area where a section of the Gold's Building once stood as redevelopment of the site continues on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, along 11th and N streets in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Arwen Wiechman, third grade, spins around while learning ballet during the Everett Community Learning Center after-school program on Monday. Dancers from the American Ballet Theatre led the students in dance exercises in advance of the company's performances on Tuesday and Wednesday of "Giselle" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
Contact the writer at mreist@journalstar.com or 402-473-7226. On Twitter at @LJSReist.
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