Food truck operators would have to get a city license and comply with rules governing their hours and locations under a proposal advanced by the Fort Dodge City Council Monday.

The council voted 5-1, with one member absent, to approve the initial reading of the city’s first rules on food trucks.

Councilmembers Kim Alstott, Terry Moehnke, Cameron Nelson, Lydia Schuur and Megan Secor voted yes. Councilman Quennel McCaleb voted no. Councilman Dave Flattery was absent.

McCaleb said he voted against the proposal because he feels it would “penalize someone trying to make a living.”

He said paying a license fee of $300 to the city could force a small business owner to have to decide whether to feed their kids or get the city license.

“I’m concerned about the families,” he said after Monday’s council meeting.

The fee for a food truck license from the city has not been set, although the $300 was mentioned during Monday’s council meeting.

During the meeting, Ron Tigner, of Lehigh, asked if the city’s rules would require food truck operators to have a Serve Safe certification.

Tigner, who said he used to work in the food business, also asked if the city’s rules would address the health of those working in the food trucks. He said in a restaurant, workers who are ill can be sent home.

Mayor Matt Bemrich and Brooke Flattery, the senior city planner, both said that food truck operators would have to comply with state health rules and get the required license from the state. They did not know if those state license requirements include Serve Safe certification.

To get the city license, food truck operators would be have to:

Provide proof that they have any required licenses 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 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.

Under the proposed ordinance, food trucks would be barred from residential areas unless they were there for a special event for which the city issued a special event permit.

Food trucks would also be banned from Central Avenue between Fifth and 12th streets.

Any food truck set up in a public right-of-way could not be within 100 feet of a restaurant between 6:30 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Additionally, no food truck would be allowed on any public right-of-way between 2 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.