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The music of ice cream trucks could be sounding through the streets of Orange if the city council approves new ordinances setting up rules for the long-prohibited traveling snack vendors.
The city council will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday and vote on whether to adopt two ordinances that will allow either vending trucks or carts. Several rules will be required, including a health inspection and liability insurance, plus restrictions on music.
Mayor Larry Spears Jr. earlier in the summer told the city staff he would like them to research allowing ice cream trucks. For decades, the city has not allowed ice cream trucks in residential areas.
City Planning Director Kelvin Knauf researched and has proposed the ordinances to allow the sale of ice cream, snow cones or similar snacks from trucks or carts. The sales will be allowed in all districts of the city, including residential neighborhoods.
To operate a truck or cart, a vendor must pass an inspection from the Orange County Health Department and then get a $25 permit from the city secretary. The permit can be suspended if the city secretary finds the truck or cart is a public health hazard.
The city is going to require a $500,000 insurance policy for bodily injuries along with a $100,000 general liability policy, or a $500,000 combined police.
The trucks or carts will be able to operate between sunrise and sunset. If one is set up in a park, the truck will need to follow the posted hours of the park. A trash can will need to be set up outside for customers to use.
Music played from a truck or cart will be allowed only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can not be heard from 100 yards away. The music cannot be played within a 100 yards of schools, hospitals, churches, the courthouse, municipal courts, funeral homes, or cemeteries. Also, the music must be turned off when the truck or cart is stopped to sell.
The trucks will be required to have “Watch for Children” signs in the front, back, and both sides.
The ordinance will need to be approved at two different meetings before it will take effect. The Tuesday meeting will be the first reading and first vote.
The meeting will be in the council auditorium next to the Orange Public Library.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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