Bloomington council passes new rules for food trucks

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – The Bloomington City Council has passed an ordinance that says food trucks and carts can park in the city’s downtown as long as they’re 50 feet from the nearest restaurant.

The Herald Times reports the council passed the ordinance 8-1 early Thursday morning after debate went past midnight. The ordinance includes location restrictions, fees, permit rules, safety requirements and penalties for noncompliance.

The newspaper reports the council could return to the issue, with council members directing city staff to research areas where food trucks could park that aren’t streets. Council member Tim Mayer also proposed charging mobile vendors different rates for downtown spots.