Omaha food truck owners speak against new requirement, city council delays vote

Omaha food truck owners came to Tuesday morning's pre-council meeting to speak against what was portrayed as a proposed requirement to return to a licensed kitchen at least once every 24 hours. But they learned at the meeting the city council adopted the change last August. "I don't think any

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The Omaha Public Works Department told KETV in a statement Tuesday it is working with the Douglas County Health Department to consider concerns raised by food truck owners on Tuesday.Food truck owners in Omaha were shocked to learn Tuesday morning that a regulation requiring daily trips to licensed kitchens, which they thought was a new proposal, has already been law for nearly nine months. In August, the city council amended the definition of “mobile food establishment” to include that they return “to a licensed commissary daily for clean up and service.” An Omaha Public Works spokesperson confirmed the August change.The owners gathered at a pre-city council meeting to voice their opposition to what they believed was a proposed regulation. They thought it was a new proposal because that’s what the summary of a proposal from Omaha Public Works says. The Douglas County Health Department Supervisor of Food Safety & Compliance told KETV, “The proposed ordinance to the Omaha Municipal Code will in no way alter the manner in which mobile units will be regulated by the Douglas County Health Department.” The owners say the rule to return to a commissary kitchen every day is burdensome, unrealistic, and unnecessary.”I really hope that it can all come to a middle ground,” Amilcar Gonzalez, owner of Taqueria Fiesta Latina, told KETV. Jon Stastny of EZ Food Trucks told KETV he has everything he needs to keep things up to code in his food truck. Gonzalez and Stastny each said they focus on events, including Junkstock. Food trucks that were at the festival’s first weekend and plan to stick around for the second are still lined up there. “Especially in multi-day events when this place is full of food trucks,” Stastny said, “there’s no way you’re able to pull in and out. We’re all up to code, permitted. We get inspected every week that we’re here.” Omaha City Councilmember Aimee Melton said she doesn’t think any city councilmember realized the change was included in a food safety ordinance in April. At the time, councilmembers focused on whether to create a food handler’s permit.City councilmembers also expressed surprise at the revelation. “Looks like it kind of got snuck in there,” Melton said. Melton said she’d like to see the daily return requirement undone as the council considers the other elements of the proposal.The council unanimously agreed to delay a public hearing on the proposal until June 16. It was scheduled for next Tuesday.The regulation was enacted in August when the city council amended the definition of a mobile food truck to include a requirement to return “to a licensed commissary daily for clean up and service.” Food truck owner Harvey Halfhill said the change has financial implications, including increased gas costs and the potential loss of event fees if he has to leave his spot.

OMAHA, Neb. —

The Omaha Public Works Department told KETV in a statement Tuesday it is working with the Douglas County Health Department to consider concerns raised by food truck owners on Tuesday.

Food truck owners in Omaha were shocked to learn Tuesday morning that a regulation requiring daily trips to licensed kitchens, which they thought was a new proposal, has already been law for nearly nine months.

In August, the city council amended the definition of “mobile food establishment” to include that they return “to a licensed commissary daily for clean up and service.” An Omaha Public Works spokesperson confirmed the August change.

The owners gathered at a pre-city council meeting to voice their opposition to what they believed was a proposed regulation. They thought it was a new proposal because that’s what the summary of a proposal from Omaha Public Works says.

The Douglas County Health Department Supervisor of Food Safety & Compliance told KETV, “The proposed ordinance to the Omaha Municipal Code will in no way alter the manner in which mobile units will be regulated by the Douglas County Health Department.”

The owners say the rule to return to a commissary kitchen every day is burdensome, unrealistic, and unnecessary.

“I really hope that it can all come to a middle ground,” Amilcar Gonzalez, owner of Taqueria Fiesta Latina, told KETV.

Jon Stastny of EZ Food Trucks told KETV he has everything he needs to keep things up to code in his food truck.

Gonzalez and Stastny each said they focus on events, including Junkstock. Food trucks that were at the festival’s first weekend and plan to stick around for the second are still lined up there.

“Especially in multi-day events when this place is full of food trucks,” Stastny said, “there’s no way you’re able to pull in and out. We’re all up to code, permitted. We get inspected every week that we’re here.”

Omaha City Councilmember Aimee Melton said she doesn’t think any city councilmember realized the change was included in a food safety ordinance in April.

At the time, councilmembers focused on whether to create a food handler’s permit.

City councilmembers also expressed surprise at the revelation.

“Looks like it kind of got snuck in there,” Melton said.

Melton said she’d like to see the daily return requirement undone as the council considers the other elements of the proposal.

The council unanimously agreed to delay a public hearing on the proposal until June 16. It was scheduled for next Tuesday.

The regulation was enacted in August when the city council amended the definition of a mobile food truck to include a requirement to return “to a licensed commissary daily for clean up and service.”

Food truck owner Harvey Halfhill said the change has financial implications, including increased gas costs and the potential loss of event fees if he has to leave his spot.