Dear Editor,
Regarding the food trucks in Richmond and in particular Steveston, as a city councillor it is my job to make balanced decisions on complex issues and this is one of them.
In life and business it is important to work together to find amiable solutions and in this case there were two food trucks that had not adhered to the bylaws.
7.4.1 All required on-site parking spaces shall be used only for the purpose of accommodating the vehicles of clients, customers, employees, members, residents, tenants or visitors who make use of the principal building ...
15.1.1 A mobile vendor must not carry on business:
a) Within 200 meters of any premises which offer the same or similar items as the mobile vendor;
The food truck “Salty’s” worked with staff and agreed to be relocated to the Britannia Shipyards location, which is a historic part of Richmond and will help to bring visitors there.
The Shameless Buns food truck has, instead of working with staff, started a social media campaign to try and bully the council into allowing them to continue to break the city bylaws. This is very unfortunate.
Many of the people who have written to the mayor and council clearly have only heard half the story and I would like to set the record straight.
The city welcomes food trucks and we are working to find options that allow brick and mortar businesses and food trucks to coexist in harmony.
I would love to see food truck alleys such as those in Portland, Ore., where many food trucks are located in areas that are not occupied in the evenings and weekends.
We have areas that are ideally suited for food trucks such as Horseshoe Way, Iona Beach, Brittania, Steveston Community Centre parking lot etc., etc....
The only way to achieve the success that Portland has accomplished is to work together and not butt heads and remain unwilling to compromise.
We could learn from the City of Vancouver which has a Food Truck Feast and achieve the same success.
We can expand the Village of Steveston, which I believe extends from the London Farm House to the tip of Garry Point. There is plenty of room for everyone; let’s all work together.
The word of the day is compromise.
Coun. Carol Day
RICHMOND
