Sechelt’s finance, culture and economic development committee is recommending a third location be opened up for mobile vendors, but that mobile vendors be restricted to food sales only.
A call for proposals earlier this year brought four responses – three from food trucks, and a fourth vendor that wants to offer paddleboard and kayak rentals.
The current bylaw, which dates back to 2008, identifies two pads at Davis Bay and one at Kinnikinnick Park as sites for mobile vendors. At their April 18 meeting, the committee discussed adding Friendship Park, which is close to downtown on the Trail Bay waterfront.
Both the Sechelt Chamber of Commerce and the Sechelt Downtown Business Association (SDBA) supported the Friendship Park location, and also suggested Hackett Park be considered as a possible location as well.
District staff have already told councillors that the three food vendors who came forward for this year are willing to work out a rotation schedule, an idea that was also supported by the SDBA. “The rotation scheme will also ensure that if any mobile food vendors are competing with local businesses, it is only for a somewhat limited time,” SDBA first vice-president Alton Toth wrote. “We would like to see unique food vendors in Sechelt. If there are more applicants than spots available, priority should be placed on mobile food vendors that offer a unique product.” The three food trucks would be offering hot dogs, perogies, and frozen yogurt and waffle pops.
The revised bylaw also makes an exception to allow general mobile vending at parks, beaches, school grounds or on municipal property during special events that have a permit, such as the Canada Day celebrations.
The committee recommended staff come back with a report on granting a permit for the paddleboard/kayak vendor interested in the smaller Davis Bay pad.
Councillors on the committee noted the desire to have something in place in time for the Victoria Day long weekend so the vendors who are ready to go wouldn’t face delays. Coun. Darren Inkster voted against the amendments because he felt the food-only provision would be too restrictive and argued in favour of bringing it back to committee for more discussion. “If we brought it back to committee we might be able to improve upon it, and there’d be a slight delay into May,” he said. “I just want to be sure we have a good bylaw going forward, and I’m not sure if that’s what we’re doing by moving it quickly to council.”
Council was due to debate the bylaw for the first three readings at the April 18 regular meeting, after Coast Reporter’s deadline.
