With the popularity of mobile food vendors growing, the Fort Dodge City Council is looking at establishing some regulations for them.

Brooke Flattery, the senior city planner, told the council Monday that the city staff gets calls every year from food vendors asking about the city’s requirements. Right now, she said, the city lacks adequate regulations.

Ensuring the safety and wellness of the citizens is the primary reason for developing some regulations. She added that having some rules in place will benefit the mobile food vendor market.

“Fostering an environment where food trucks can prosper is good economic development,” she said.

Flattery said the city staff is proposing a mandatory license for food trucks. To get such a license, the food vendor would have to:

• Provide proof that they have a mobile food license from the state.

• Have the propane tanks on the truck or trailer inspected by the Fire Department.

• Provide proof that they have liability insurance coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence and property damage insurance coverage of at least $1 million.

People selling produce at farmers markets or selling sweet corn from the bed of a pickup truck would not have to get a license.

The fee for getting a mobile food vendor license hasn’t been determined yet.

Food vendors would be allowed to operate in all of the city’s zoning districts, but would face additional requirements in residential areas and downtown, according to Flattery.

For example, a food truck could not be on Central Avenue between 12th and Fifth streets unless it was there as part of a special event.

Food vendors set up on a public right-of-way could not be within 100 feet of the main entrance of a restaurant. The exception would be if the food truck is set up as part of a special event.

Food trucks would not be allowed to operate between 2 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. under the proposal.

The council took no action on the proposal Monday. The city staff plans to make some revisions to it.

Another workshop to discuss the plan will be held before the council votes on it.