July 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

No Decision Yet on Food Truck Regulation in Santa Monica:

Food trucks may have a promising future in Santa Monica after all— it may just take a while before the City knows how to give the mobile food vendors the optimal forum to sell their unique edible products to local residents, employees, and visitors.

Santa Monica City Council members took no decisive action during a study session of food trucks during a special June 21 meeting, requesting staff to return with a myriad of options of how to best allow the mobile vendors to operate in Santa Monica. Specifically, the council sought “to assess the need for additional on-street regulations regarding parking time limits and/or prohibitions” in the name of public safety and “proposals to [lobby] the State legislature to amend the Vehicle Code” in order for the City to “establish special designations for on-street mobile vending.” The council also requested staff to return “with recommendations regarding the permitting process for off-street mobile food vending trucks on specific sites.”

Mayor Pro Tem Gleam Davis said food trucks promote a communal experience and affordable food for families. “My guess is that if we might find some off-street opportunities for food trucks, they may be less inclined to want to be on the streets where we don’t want them,” Davis said, adding downtown Santa Monica would be a difficult location to allow food trucks. She was also worried about unfair competition, where restaurants in the downtown area have much higher overhead costs and wouldn’t be able to compete with food trucks.

Housing and Economic Development Director Andy Agle said staff had received several complaints from the local business community about the food trucks. Agle reported concerns by non-mobile food vendors of the lack of a level playing field, with food trucks, at least perceptively, maintaining a competitive advantage over brick-and-mortar restaurants. Specifically, brick-and-mortar businesses have to pay rent, government fees, special assessments, and are subject to the City’s signage and aesthetic rules.

“With respect to on-street vending, where trucks park on city streets and patrons are served on the adjacent sidewalks, we’ve received concerns from adjacent businesses and business districts,” he told the council. “These include public safety concerns related to putting pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists at risk, as well as obstructing police views into businesses.”

Even more, Agle said city regulation of food trucks is rather difficult, as restrictive action against the mobile vendors is “constricted by the California Vehicle Code, which prohibits cities from adopting regulations governing on-street mobile vending other than for public safety reasons.”

“We also received quite a bit of positive feedback,” he said, adding the food trucks give a community feel much like a farmers’ market.

Half of brick-and-mortar restaurants reported slower business on food truck nights, Agle reported. A recent survey conducted by the staff of food truck patrons indicated that a majority of people patronizing the mobile vendors were less likely to visit brick-and-mortar restaurants on nights they purchased food from the culinary vehicles.

Toby Smith of the California Heritage Museum, which hosts the Tuesday night food trucks on the Main Street lot as a source of funding, disagreed with Agle’s assertions during public comment. “A number of the restaurants we have contacted are in support (of food trucks),” she said, adding nearby brick-and-mortar restaurants actually experience an increase in business. “I think some of the results may not be totally accurate. The community is really enjoying the food trucks (and it) is something that benefits the community.”

Another resident, Garret Gerson, a boardmember of the museum, said the local farmers’ markets experienced similar opposition by area businesses, similar to food trucks today. Yet, farmers’ markets are now an iconic element of Santa Monica, and Gerson suggested perhaps the food trucks could be another signature of the city.

“It is really a tremendous community event,” he said. “There are kids and dogs and everyone is picnicking on the lawn (of the heritage museum).”

Louisa Fish raised concern of potential increases in jaywalking and the lack of large masses of people near Santa Monica Boulevard and 14th Street, another proposed food truck lot, while resident Gary Cavanaugh added the food trucks parking on Pennsylvania Avenue, near his workplace, serve as an ideal dining destination in an area featuring minimal restaurant options within a reasonable walking distance.

Council member Kevin McKeown seemed to side with food truck supporters. “The first step would be to try to encourage the activities and businesses where we do want them and in a way that benefits the community,” he said. “What’s been happening on Main Street, on the whole, has been pretty positive. There is a lot of opportunity here if we are wise enough to pursue it.”

In comparing food trucks to Internet commerce and the threats it posed to brick-and-mortar businesses such as bookstores, McKeown added the world did not come to an end when he bought ice cream from ice cream trucks as a child, making a point that the desire to regulate mobile vendors such as food trucks is not always a good thing.

One of the council’s primary concerns included the impact of food trucks on downtown area restaurants. “I do think the experiment … has been successful by and large,” Mayor Richard Bloom said. “I remain concerned about uses in other parts of the city. My major concern … is in our most congested part of the city, downtown Santa Monica.”

Another worry is late night vending, when popular bars in the area close at around 2 a.m., Santa Monica Police Department officers told council members that the “party atmosphere” of local bars or clubs spill onto public streets after closing and patronize food trucks who capitalize on the late night crowds. Police officers were concerned the nightlife hours would be unofficially extended beyond 2 a.m. at lingering food trucks, potentially threatening public safety.

While he liked the idea of food trucks, Council member Bob Holbrook hoped Santa Monica would not be flooded with too many of them. “I think it’s kind of neat that we have the food trucks (but) I am a little concerned there are 150 of them licensed in Santa Monica. I hope we don’t wind up gridlocked,” he said. “I would be reluctant to have a permanent location where there was a roundup seven nights a week. I think that we would hear from merchants continuously.”

in News
<>Related Posts

(Video) Hundreds of Drones Light up the Sky for Palisades to Celebrate July 4th

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Event Marked One of the First Large Gatherings Among Palisadians Since the January Wildfires. The Event Marked One of...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Santa Monica Home Defies Convention: Architect Eric Owen Moss Debuts Shape-Shifting Design

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with...

Caitlyn Jenner’s Friend and Former Foundation CEO Dies in Malibu ATV Crash

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

ATV Plummeted 350 Feet After Rear-Ending Vehicle in Malibu Sophia Hutchins, former CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation and longtime...

New SaMo Bridge Program Refers 56 People in First Month; 37 Connected to Services

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

According to city officials, the program is on pace to meet its goal of serving 260 individuals annually Santa Monica’s...

Multi-Family Venice Property on Rare Double Lot Lists at Over $5M

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

In total, the four units provide 5,398 square feet of living space A multi-family property located one block from Venice...

Hama Sushi Hosts Weekly Music and Comedy Open Mics

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The venue, a Venice Beach staple since 1979, has recently expanded its legendary happy hour to the entire patio Hama...

Connections Breakfast to Network Local Business Professionals in Malibu

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The event, sponsored by Malibu Country Mart, will feature a breakfast mixer where attendees can meet new contacts  A Connections...

12th Annual Gopher Scramble Golf Tournament to Benefit Venice Heritage Museum

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The museum opened to the public in March 2024 at the Main Street Design Center with its inaugural exhibition, “This...

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Ruskin Group Theatre to Stage ‘The Fantasticks’

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

A timeless tale of young love and life’s bittersweet beauty, the show is reimagined with modern flair for contemporary audiences...

Film Review: F1: The Movie

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

FILM REVIEWF1: THE MOVIERated PG-13155 MinutesReleased June 27th F1: The Movie will envelop you in a racecar. You will be...

Big Blue Bus Launches Prohibition Order Program to Bolster Safety

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

The orders, which can range from 30 days to one year, target offenses that threaten the safety and comfort of...

Col. Eric Swenson Honored by LA for Historic Debris Removal Effort

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Swenson, with a distinguished military background including a Ph.D. and multiple master’s degrees from Penn State and other institutions, has...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...