The Downtown Shareholders’ plan to have a food truck lunch downtown today went to a vote of the Unified Government Commission on Thursday night.
The plan was approved, 7-1, for a food truck from Indios Carbonsitos to be located from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Sept. 12, in the parking lot across from the Hilton Garden Inn at 5th and Minnesota Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.
The Downtown Shareholders have three special events planned with food trucks, and have had to change the location from near Huron Park to the parking lot at 5th and Minnesota, according to the UG.
Commissioner Gayle Townsend of the 1st District voted against the effort after asking questions about the food truck’s effect on the nearby restaurants, including one inside the Hilton Garden Inn, and also about the need for parking space in that parking lot with conventions taking place. A religious convention was there this week.
She was in favor of discussing this issue more at the standing committee level.
Mayor Mark Holland remarked that he looked at food trucks as similar issues to carports and the third dog that people want. He said there could be a better way than bringing a food truck issue to the commission every time someone wants one.
He suggested finding out the best practices, adopting a policy and letting the UG staff decide on future food truck requests.