Food truck regulation approved by Ottawa council

Food truck vendors will need to show proof of a food handling license and other required licenses for food preparation before they can operate in Ottawa.

The City Council took its first step in food truck regulations by approving the measure Tuesday.

Mayor Dan Aussem said this is the council's move toward addressing health and saftey concerns after the council hosted a workshop last week with local restaurant and food truck owners. The council intends to take further action after the end of the year.

Earlier this month, Ottawa restaurants and bars raised concerns about food truck vendors and the lack of restrictions on them. The city of Ottawa had no restrictions whatsoever on food truck vendors, compared with neighboring towns that required permitting.

Last week, Aussem said his main concern is the city doesn't have any rules and the council previously had complaints about a vendor showing up with a tent and selling tacos out of a cooler. Putting the safety regulations in place gives Ottawa some regulations from preventing something like that from happening again.

In another item, commissioners approved an agreement with Surf Broadband Solution, which will be running iFiber through the downtown stretching from the Jordan block to Washington Square. Aussem said wifi and speakers will be ready downtown before Thanksgiving, in time for the Chris Kringle Market.