Food trucks in Malibu up for discussion

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From left: City Manager Jim Thorsen, Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal, Mayor Pro Tem Joan House, Mayor Lou La Monte and Councilmen Skylar Peak and John Sibert. 

Malibu City Council on Monday night will consider drafting regulations on food trucks, other types of mobile vendors and mobile billboards after receiving several residential and community complaints at past meetings. 

Planners prepared a 12-page report detailing areas of concern over the mobile ads and vendors. Residents who live near popular food and junk truck spots in commercial areas such as Heathercliff Road and Pacific Coast Highway asked city officials to help curtail what they see as a local nuisance that leaves trash strewn about, causes added traffic, takes away public parking spots and creates blind spots for drivers. 

At a Council meeting in September, local resident J.D. Stevens said he started noticing the food and junk trucks about a year ago and wants the City Council to do more to deal with the constant annoyance. 

City officials were worried that state law could trump whatever ordinance the city might draft since the state controls PCH. State law currently allows food and junk trucks to park along the highway. The can, however, try to enact an ordinance based on concerns over public safety.

“State law provides that municipalities can regulate mobile vending on the  public right-of-way only, so long as the regulation is rationally related to issues of public safety,” the report said. 

Check back tonight and tomorrow for coverage of the City Council’s discussion.