The document discusses a strategy meeting agenda focused on introducing an ordinance to create a new Mobile Food Facility license that would allow for on-site food preparation from vehicles. The current rules only allow for pre-packaged foods. The proposed ordinance would establish requirements for food safety, vehicle standards, and commissary support for the Mobile Food Facilities.
2. Agenda
• Introduction of IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship
• Current Legal Rules
• Amended Ordinance in Committee
• Speaking from Experience
• Preparing for Opposition
• Crafting a Strategy
3. IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship
• Trains a corps of University of Chicago Law
School students to provide legal assistance to
low-income entrepreneurs
4. IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship
• Provides free legal representation
• Presents educational workshops and events
• Advocates for economic liberty in Chicago
5. Institute for Justice
• National civil liberties law firm
• Fights for individuals’ rights:
– To earn an honest living
– To protect their homes from government takeover
– To choose their children’s schools, and
– To speak freely
• Started a National Street Vendor’s initiative:
– El Paso
– Atlanta
– Chicago
– Streets of Dreams
6. Current Legal Rules
Food Peddler License
• Individual who, going from place to place, whether on private
property or on the public way, sells fruits and vegetables from
wagons, pushcarts, handcarts or other vehicles , or from packs,
baskets or similar containers.
• $165 fee
• Display name and address on cart, in letters at least 2 inches high
• Wear badge
• May sell fruits and vegetables only, uncut
– Can sell other (non-food) items if no more than 15% of sales
• Many no peddling zones, hard to map out
• Fines of $50-$200 for violations
7. Current Legal Rules
Mobile Food Dispenser License
• “any person who, by traveling from place to place upon the
public ways, serves food or drink from a wheeled vehicle”
• $275 fee
– $330 for shared kitchen user license
• Display name and address on vehicle
• No food except individual portions that are totally enclosed
in a wrapper or container and which have been
manufactured, prepared or wrapped in a licensed food
establishment
– Exception for coffee, soda, some frozen desserts
– Mark wrapper with date of preparation and name of preparing
business
8. Current Legal Rules
Mobile Food Dispenser License (cont.)
• Vehicle must be enclosed with top and sides
• Vehicle must cover food and hold food > 18 in. above public way
• Interior of vehicle must be of smooth, impervious material that is
easily washed and light in color
• Vehicle must be used only as mobile food dispenser
• Meat and dairy must be in refrigerator at < 40° or in oven with
thermometer showing > 180°. Hot food must be kept > 145°
• Must have handwashing sink and running hot water, empty
wastewater daily
• Must keep food enclosed and protected from contamination
• Must provide washable trash can nearby and clean environs
• Special equipment and inspections for frozen dessert vehicles
9. Current Legal Rules
Mobile Food Dispenser License (cont.)
• Must move; may stop only to serve customers for no more than 2
hours in any one block
• A few districts prohibited, especially for frozen desserts
• No stopping within 200 feet of a restaurant entrance, church, a
school or school playground while school is in session
• No sound system; no music while stopped; no music between
7:00pm and 9:00am
• No sales between 10:00pm and 10:00am
• No sale except from curb side and only when vehicle is legally
parked
• Fines of $200-$1000 for each day of violations
10. Ordinance in Committee
• Inspired and nurtured by Matt Maroni of Gaztrowagon
• Introduced last summer and again June 8, 2011 by Alderman
Scott Waguespack
• Referred to Committee on License and Consumer Protection
– Committee Chair, Alderman Emma Mitts
11. Ordinance in Committee
• Mobile Food Dispenser license remains the
same for serving prepared, wrapped portions,
beverages, and frozen desserts
• Mobile Food Facility license required for a
vehicle used in conjunction with a commissary
or other food dispensing establishment to
cook, sell, or distribute at retail, food
12. Ordinance in Committee
• Mobile Food Facility license application:
– Name and address
– Sample route map for five business days
– Plan of MFF and any mobile support unit, approved by
department of health
– Name and address of commissary or other location
approved by the department of health where MFF
and MSU will be stored and cleaned.
• $660 fee
– $330 for shared kitchen user license
13. Ordinance in Committee
Mobile Food Facility License
• MFF must be cleaned by MSU or at commissary daily
• MSU must be cleaned at commissary daily
• MFF and MSUs must be stored at or within a licensed
commissary or other location approved by department of health
• Food must be made in licensed MFF or food establishment
• MFF must have owner or employee with food service sanitation
manager certificate
• Must comply with food handler regulations and store food
according to code
• List sources of food daily and keep records on board for 30 days
14. Ordinance in Committee
Mobile Food Facility License (cont.)
• City Council may prohibit issuance of licenses in
specified areas to preserve health and safety or avoid
traffic congestion
• No operation in medical center district
• No parking or standing:
– Within 200 feet of food establishment that offers a similar
service;
– Within 100 feet of any food establishment without written
consent
– On private property without written consent
– At special events or in parks without permits
19. Ordinance in Committee
Mobile Food Facility License (cont.)
• All service from MFF: no tables, etc.
• No open condiment containers
• Discard hot food at end of day
• Wiping cloths stored in acceptable solution, with
testing strips available
• No self-service
• Thermometers in heating and refrigeration units and
probing thermometers available
• Potentially hazardous foods < 41° or > 135°
• Any other board of health regulations
20. Ordinance in Committee
Mobile Food Facility License (cont.)
• Hand-washing sink, 3-compartment ware-
washing sink, running hot water with
wastewater emptied daily or more
• Washable trash can adjacent to MFF
• Keep environs clean
• Written agreement for washroom within 200
feet of parking spot if staying more than 2 hours
21. Ordinance in Committee
Mobile Food Facility License (cont.)
• Vehicle must be registered as a commercial vehicle
• Vehicle must be inspected and maintained every 90 days;
copies of 4 maintenance reports on board
• Operator must have a driver’s license
• Vehicle must be enclosed with top and sides
• Vehicle must cover food and hold food > 18 in. above public
way
• Interior of vehicle must be of smooth, impervious material
that is easily washed and light in color
• Name and address painted on each side of vehicle
• Plate showing license period and license number
22. Ordinance in Committee
Mobile Food Facility License (cont.)
• Before building or buying vehicle, submit 3 copies
of plan to health department and $750 plan
review fee. Submit plans for menu change.
• Board of health can regulate construction.
• Before using, bring to health department for
inspection with $400 inspection fee. Initial
inspection not necessary if standardized vehicle
already approved.