Councilmen Bill Musser, left, and Paul Stoelting chat before the start of the November meeting of the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday night, Nov. 19. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Town Council President Nathan Scherer offered to extend the allotted time for public comment from the floor during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 19. The purpose was to start a dialogue regarding food trucks in town.

Several months ago, the owner of MooTown Snack Shak came before the council complaining about food trucks hurting the business of brick and mortar restaurants. He requested the council address the problem.

Michele Camacho, co-owner of Twisted Tiki Food Truck, spoke about concerns that were brought before the town council several months ago regarding food trucks negatively impacting local restaurants business.

She told the council it was not her intent to harm other businesses in town, but to offer something different while attracting people to the area. She noted people have come from as far as Ohio to try her food. She and her husband have also worked with numerous Syracuse businesses, providing the food truck for a variety of events.

To protect food truck business in Syracuse, Camacho suggested that food trucks set up be limited to private commercial or residential property and vendors pay a $600 annual permit fee with day vendor passes being available as well.

Twisted Tiki, which uses a lot owned by Metz Auto and Outdoors, requires any other food trucks to get a vendor permit from the town to be on the lot.

Councilman Larry Siegel asked if Camacho had read the town’s food truck ordinance. She said no. Jason Metz, owner of Metz Auto and Outdoors, told the council it was his idea to bring the food truck to town to support the economy.

He told the council food trucks bring customers to the area who will either shop after eating or come back later to explore the area more. It was never his intention to hurt any small business in Syracuse. He just wanted to offer the community something it can be proud of. As a business owner and Twisted Tiki Truck’s landlord, he said there should also be consideration as to a property owners’ rights to hold events.

Noting he’s been holding food truck events at his business for years, Metz told the council food trucks offer something different to the community and he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong by supporting another small business.

Later, when the matter came up as an agenda item, Siegel said he thought the council should hear from more people regarding the matter. So far, they’ve heard from one person, who is against food trucks, and two who are in favor of them.

Scherer said he thought Camacho was being pro-active in doing things correctly and noted she publicized the fact food trucks would be up for discussion at the council meeting and no one either pro or con on the issue, except her and Metz, was in attendance.

Councilman Bill Musser told Camacho existing restaurant owners told him they lose 40% in business when Twisted Tiki sets up. Camacho said she would be interested in seeing their sales. She explained a food truck is weather dependent and often doesn’t offer seating. A good amount of sales for her is approximately $1,000 a day.

That’s the minimum Twisted Tiki Food Truck would have to expect to make when setting up for an event. Camacho also noted a brick and mortar restaurant would not survive on $1,000 sales a day.

Currently, there are no limits to food trucks coming into town.

“We have to look at the whole picture,” Musser said.

Metz noted when someone makes a choice to go to a food truck or a brick and mortar restaurant, each offers a different experience.

“I’m not here to hurt any business,” he said. “I think we need to look at the variety being offered by a food truck.”

Camacho suggested council members also speak to the business owners who had her set up in parking lots for events. The sales increased.

The council decided to continue to research the matter.