Council decides not to lift food truck moratorium in Abbeville

Not long after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Abbeville City Council made the decision to place a moratorium on food trucks.
At the time, two vendors already had permits to operate food trucks in the city. An ordinance covering food trucks allows for up to five at a given time, and they must be on private property.
The council allowed the two permitted vendors to continue to operate, but would not accept any new permits.
“The council felt like the situation with COVID,” Mayor Mark Piazza said during last Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, “and with the restaurants being closed and then having to operate at (limited capacity), a moratorium was appropriate at that time.
“That moratorium is still in place.”
During last Tuesday’s regular meeting, the City Council decided that the moratorium will not be lifted at this time. That came after a local resident, Hope McCloskey, expressed interest in operating a food truck in the city.
McCloskey said she and her husband, Chad, will soon be ready to open a food trailer.
“We are having a food trailer custom built for us,” McCloskey said. “With Chad being from here, he naturally wants to serve in his community.
“We are asking that it be considered to allow us with our food trailer in the community.”
Councilwoman Roslyn White said, given the reasons for the moratorium, she feels that now is not the right time to reverse course.
“I love the idea of food trucks,” White said. “The more options we have for dining, the better. However, I fully support the moratorium we put in place. Our restaurants took a huge hit.
“I don’t know that we want to lift it at this point.”
Councilman Francis Touchet Jr., who initially brought up the moratorium last year, agreed that it should continue.
“We heard from businesses about how COVID was affecting them,” Touchet said. “We still have an economy that is not where it needs to be. We need to give some of these businesses time to recover.
“I don’t feel like we are at that point to lift anything.”
Broussard said, when it comes to the economy, it goes beyond the effect of COVID.
“We are in an extended oil and gas reduction in our parish,” Broussard said. “We have seen job loss and income tax loss.”
Considering potential losses factored into the decision for the moratorium. Touchet said brick and mortar restaurants return revenue to the city.
“Food trucks are not paying electricity and water,” Touchet said. “They are not paying sewer and they are not paying property tax.
“They are paying a permit fee.”
McCloskey said she respectfully disagreed that food trucks do not bring something to the city.
“I understand the thing about the (utilities),” McCloskey said, “but every supply of food, gas, propane, all of that is purchased in the city.”
Councilman Francis Plaisance, who serves as president of the Louisiana Cattle Festival, suggested that McCloskey could be a part of that event’s food lineup. The city’s ordinance does not preclude food trucks from being part of festivals.
“I appreciated talking about the events,” McCloskey said. “As long as we can be part of the Cattle Festival and other events, I will take that.
“At the same time, it’s disheartening. You ask people to bring business to the city, and when we try to, it’s denied.”
White said she doesn’t see that as a decision that is final.
“Businesses are changing every day,” White said. “Food trucks are part of that change. I could see on the horizon that we would offer this.
“It’s just not the right time, but we can start to have the conversation.”