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Tulsa City Councilor Pulls Food Truck Ordinances For Now

Tulsa Food Trucks

City Councilor Blake Ewing has pulled proposed ordinances that would keep food trucks at least 300 feet from Tulsa schools, restaurants and special events.

"I've pulled the food truck ordinance from consideration and am working to schedule a food truck town hall where we can discuss any and all issues involving food trucks and their continued success in Tulsa," Ewing posted on Facebook this afternoon.

Ewing told the council's urban and economic development committee last week encouraging a food truck culture takes balance.

"We are acknowledging that in order for that culture to thrive and to be successful in the long term, there has to be some boundaries that protect the festival organizers or the brick-and-mortar restaurants," Ewing said.

The ordinance came before the full council for the first time Thursday. Restaurants could give food trucks written permission to be within 300 feet.

Food truck owner Teri Fermo said rules are needed, but the proposed distance was too far.

"That's my concern, is where would you park on Cherry Street? Where would you park on Brookside?" Fermo said. 

An earlier draft set the distance at 150 feet. Austin, Texas, has rules prohibiting food trucks within 20 feet of restaurants.

The ordinance would not affect food trucks that have been invited to participate in special events permitted by the city. The Cherry Street Farmers Market and Food Truck Wednesday at Guthrie Green are examples of those events.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.