What's on the minds of the dozens of food truck owners in Miami-Dade? Agenda Item 5(D), "ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO ZONING; AMENDING SECTIONS 33-1 AND 33-13 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY (CODE); PROVIDING FOR MOBILE FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS SPECIAL EVENTS; PROVIDING COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ORDINANCE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF EFFECTIVE DATE; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE(Department of Planning & Zoning)".
As Short Order reported last week, the ordinance pertains to food truck roundups in unincorporated Miami-Dade county and states that roundup organizers submit a packet consisting of over a dozen items including tax certificates for all trucks, sanitation and site plans and what amounts to permission slips by 80% of residents who live within 1,000 feet of a proposed roundup or "Mobile Food Service Operations Special Event (MOFSE)".
If a MOFSE -- gotta love bureaucrat speak -- was planned next to a high-rise condo, say, the organizer would have to set out on a door-knocking campaign asking residents to sign off on food trucks operating in their neighborhood. That could be extremely difficult and time consuming to these small business owners who are usually busy running their own operations.
Food truck owners have mixed feelings regarding the ordinance. On one hand, they want to know where they stand according to the law, but on the other, they think this ordinance will be too restrictive.
Jack Garabedian, owner of Jefe's Original Fish Taco, will speak on behalf of the food trucks, as will Richard Hales (Dim Ssam a Gogo), Oren Bass (Slow Food Truck), Kevin Gleizes (Caza Crepes). and David Garcia (The Fish Box). They will have a combined five minutes to make their case before voting place.
If this agenda item passes today, ramifications are unclear. In other words, will there be a grace period? How will it be enforced? The law only affects unincorporated areas. Will cities like Miami and North Miami, where some of the biggest roundups are held follow suit?
Short Order will keep readers posted as to the outcome of the vote.
Whatever the outcome of the vote, BTTR, located near Johnson & Wales University, rolls out tonight from 5:30 to 10 p.m. with over 30 food trucks, plenty of picnic space and live music. Trucks serving chow are:
Aaron's Catering Express
Che Grill
CheeseMe Mobile
The Chill Stop
Churro Mania
ClaraBelle's Cupcakes
Daddy's Grill
Divan Bakery
Dog Eat Dog
Eat Where You Are
The Fish Box
The Flying Saucer
gastroPod
Jefe's Original Fish Taco & Burgers
Kona Ice
Latin Burger & Taco
Manilla Rice
The MexZican Gourmet
Miso Hungry
Mr. Good Stuff
Ms. Cheezious
Muscle Truck
Nacho Bizness
Nacho Mama's Mexican Grill
Papa's Tapas
The Red Truck
El Rincon Del Coqui
The Rolling Stove
Sakaya Kitchen a Gogo
Slow Food Truck
Snow Caps
Sugar Rush
SugarYummy Mama
Wing Commander
Wrapidito Yum
Yellow Submarine
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.