Mobile Food Vending and Transportation Projects

Two topics of interest on City Council Committee agendas tomorrow. 

At 10:30 the Public Works Committee will look at the Alameda County Transportation Expenditure Plan.  The County Transportation Commission plans to go to voters next year and ask for a renewal and increase in the sales tax to fund transportation projects.  The City would like to add projects to the list of what will get funded if the tax measure passes.  Three projects considered tomorrow include Coliseum Transit Oriented Development (TOD), Lake Merritt BART Station Area TOD and a Broadway Corridor and “Streetcar” project.   

At 2pm the Community & Economic Development Committee will review a resolution to allow limited mobile food vending in Council Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 through a special events permitting process.  The permits would allow “Food Pods” (clusters of two or more mobile food vendors) on a pilot basis in a Commercial, Industrial or Open Space zoning district.  The special “Food Pod Event” business permit would allow the event no more than two days a week and no more than 40 times in a calendar year.  

It is not clear where these pods would be allowed nor in what proximity to existing restaurants.  Costs are not explicitly addressed in the proposal.