City leaders have retreated on a proposed ordinance change affecting mobile food vendors as a new one is crafted. On Monday the council cancelled a proposed ordinance change as a committee looking into lifting restrictions is backing away from the idea of unlimited numbers of vendors.

Earlier this year the council signaled it wants to lift the current limit of 10 mobile food vendors with no cap.

Councilman Daniel Martinez said the panel wants to “make the new ordinance more sensible.”

“The initial reading was to have it unlimited – and a bit of chaos, everyone could do it essentially,” said Martinez who sits on the committee.  “We’ve limited that number from infinity down to 20. We tweaked the ordinance to make it sustainable for the city of Ceres.”

The new proposed ordinance will be introduced at an October council meeting.

The committee has rejected the concept of doing away with the minimum distance of 1,000 feet between vendors and no closer than 350 feet from a park or enclosed restaurant. Christopher Hoem, director of Planning and Community Development, had recommended eliminating the distance buffers when he stated that “considering that such buffers do not exist for any other type of business (for example, between fast food buildings) and given the natural limitation of feasible locations for food trucks.”

Martinez said the panel wants to keep the minimum distance standards and doesn’t like the idea of allowing vendors to set up tables, chairs and covered areas for dining.

Others on the panel include Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra, Nelson Gomez, Johnny Garcia and Chamber President Brandy Meyer.

Prior to 2018, Ceres did not allow mobile food vendors to operate in the city limits. The council reversed that policy and decided to allow them with a limit of 10. Since that time, the city has a waiting list of 17 additional requests to operate taco trucks and other vendors. 

Conditions that will remain in place include the prohibition of vendors playing music except at approved special events, requiring lavatories within 200 feet for sanitation reasons and forbidding food trucks in downtown Ceres.

Any property owner where a food truck operates may cause a permit to be revoked.

Hoem suggests that there will be a natural limitation on feasible locations for food trucks based on the requirement for lavatory and parking facilities to be accessible within 200 feet. He said there will be a lack of commercial or industrial property owners willing and able to support the food truck on site with appropriate restroom facilities.

During public workshops on the issue, at least two individuals voiced their opposition to food trucks being able to set up tables, chairs and shade, citing the unsightliness. But Hoem recommended copying the policy enacted in Modesto and Turlock “in order to help them remain competitive in our region.” The committee felt otherwise.

“That would take away from the brick and mortar establishments that we already have,” commented Martinez. “The food trucks are there for people to come, place their order, pick up their food and leave.”

Martinez said the city is outlining the process for a conditional use permit if someone wants to establish a grub hub style location in Ceres, such as proper paving, adequate spacing, electrical hookups for each truck and restrooms.

“It’s probably going to be an expensive endeavor so I don’t assume anyone is going to come forward right now,” said Martinez. “It’s going to take some strategic planning, I’m sure but there has been interest from a few individuals in the city.”

Vice Mayor Bret Silveira voiced his opposition to the changes in July, saying, “I’ve spoken to dozens and dozens of residents and this is not just my opinion … not one person have I spoken to supports the idea of more food trucks in Ceres unless it’s in a Grub Hub style environment.” He added that tables and canopies “could be an eyesore and nuisance.”

Chamber of Commerce member Renee Ledbetter does not support an expansion of mobile food vendors in Ceres. She cited how Ceres restaurants are struggling without increased competition from those selling food from trucks.