The City of Champaign is launching a pilot project for the summer months that would allow mobile food trucks in Downtown and Campustown at specified times and locations throughout the months of June, July and August. The goal of the Mobile Food Truck Pilot Project is to provide an opportunity for mobile food truck vending and to also observe their impacts as the Champaign City Council considers the existing regulations for their operation.
A Mobile Food Truck is defined as a “self-contained food service operation, located in a readily movable motorized wheeled or towed vehicle, used to store, prepare, display or serve food intended for individual portion service.” Mobile Food Trucks can provide pedestrians with a broad range of food menu items in a “walk-up and take away” format. They typically operate for a short duration during peak times with some operating late night.
Vendor would be able to operate within seven designated areas – four in the Downtown and three in Campustown. Vendors would be able to operate a maximum of two hours at a time per location and most locations will be available for vending from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm daily. Some locations will be limited to evening hours only.
Details for the Pilot Project, along with maps of the seven permitted locations, is available at the Champaign City Clerk’s Office, 102 North Neil Street, Champaign or at www.ci.champaign.il.us. To participate, mobile food truck vendors need to apply for a license from the City of Champaign through the City Clerk’s Office. For this pilot project, a discounted license fee of $50, plus a $25 application fee, is available. To participate, mobile food truck vendors will also have to obtain a license from the Champaign –Urbana Public Health District.
The Champaign City Council will hold a Study Session on the topic of mobile food trucks at the Tuesday, June 26, 2012 meeting. At this meeting City Staff will provide an update on the Pilot Project and will present options for considering the existing regulations of mobile food trucks. The City of Champaign will work closely with the Champaign Center Partnership to solicit input from interested mobile food truck vendors as well existing Downtown and Campustown businesses. Questions about the Mobile Food Truck Pilot Project can be directed to Assistant Planning Director, Rob Kowalski at [email protected] or 217-403-8800.