The Magnolia City Council considered adding more mobile food vendor licenses for food trucks at their May meeting.
The original resolution would change the number of mobile food vendor licenses from five to eight.
After reading the resolution, Alderman James Jefferson spoke about some concerns he had about mobile food vendors.
Jefferson said he and others had noticed some issues with trash around where some of the local food trucks set up. He said he was worried that more licenses would lead to an increase in undisposed-of waste building up.
Mayor Parnell Vann said the City Council can make changes to how waste is managed by mobile food vendors and penalties could be put into place for vendors that do not keep their areas clean.
"Back when we originally did this, we spoke with local restaurant owners and decided on the number five... I think it would be good to wait a period to give them the chance to comment on this, table this until we can get some feedback from the community," said Alderman Jamie Waller.
Jefferson also noted that pop-up food trucks have been known to set up without permits.
"When we issue these permits we have to be fair. These permits cost $800. There are a lot of vendors that pop up though when the inspector goes home and you close the City Hall doors. They just camp up and I see them all the time. Maybe we should enforce that situation," he said.
Vann said he had hoped to add a fine of $350 to the resolution under consideration to keep unlicensed vendors from continuing to pop up.
"What we're here tonight about: we have a crawfish vendor in the process of buying his trailer. We can't give him his permit because he has to have the trailer inspected. Along comes the shaved ice machine, they are ready to go. They buy out the permit. Days later the crawfish trailer comes by, gets his tags, and drops it by and gets it inspected... They are ready to go but there is no permit," Vann explained.
Alderman Steve Crowell made a motion to have the resolution tabled until the June meeting; his motion was seconded and the resolution was tabled.
The floor was then opened to discussion.
Waller asked that a compromise be made by adding either one license or a temporary license so that the vendor in need could operate and the rest of the resolution remain tabled until June.
A local resident who did not give their name asked that the City Council not pass resolutions that only benefit one individual but make sure if they add new licenses to accommodate more people or table everything.
After discussion among City Council members, it was decided that one more license would be added and more licenses and penalties will be tabled until the next meeting.
The resolution and tabling of future additions both passed unanimously.