Food trucks coming to Palm Springs, but not in downtown area

“Yes it’s true, food trucks are coming to Palm Springs,” proclaimed Palm Springs mayor pro tem Paul Lewin.

The Palm Springs City Council did approve a food truck ordinance, allowing them into the city, but placed major restrictions on the quick eateries.

Food trucks in Palm Springs will only be able to operate from 9am to 5pm (7pm in the summer months), and will not be allowed to set up shop on Indian Canyon Dr. or Palm Canyon Dr. between Vista Chino and Ramon Rd.

East Tahquitz Canyon Way, as well as Belardo Rd. and North Museum Dr. are also off limits for food trucks.

The city has looked at the possibilities of bringing food trucks in for over 16 months, gathering information from local officials, restaurants, and hotels. The city took into account local brick and mortar business concerns, as well as health and safety issues, like keeping the public safe from any potential late-night jaywalking accidents.

“Yeah, this is the way we do it in Palm Springs, we gave ourselves a little bit of time,” explained Lewin. “We brought forward an ordinance that I think everyone’s going to be very very happy with.”

But Reggie Cameron, a food truck proponent, said there is a potential work around for food trucks to bypass the ordinance altogether. “The reality is is whether the city allows them to operate or not, they will come here and they will be able to operate in some of the tribal quadrants and zones, something they already do,” said Cameron. “However, if they’re there, they don’t have to meet the health and safety requirements to the city or the county. So the reality is they’ll be here, but if we don’t allow them to operate during specific hours, they’ll just be here not on our terms.”

Cameron also added that some brick and mortar businesses already have food trucks ready to operate and sees the limitations as a suppressant for growth in the downtown area.

But the city council prefers to take baby steps, see how the original plan works, and revisit the issue in the future, if necessary. “This is the way good government operates and I think in a year’s time if we need to relook at it, we can do that,” said Lewin.

So food trucks may be on their way to Palm Springs, just don’t expect to see them downtown.