Council in the process of changing city code to allow food trucks near splash pad

Ordinances are being amended by the city council to allow food trucks to park and operate on the north side of the new splash pad in Harmony Park.

Newton City Council approved the first reading of the amended ordinance in a 4-2 vote without any discussion. It will require two more readings before the changes can be officially adopted into City Code. Specifically, the code changes affect the south side of North Third Avenue West, which is north of the park.

Council members Joel Mills and Stacy Simbro both voted no, but they did not disclose why they voted against the code amendment.

Existing ordinances do not allow parking on public property or in the public right-of-way except for designated locations in city parks and the downtown square. The ordinance amendment will codify the changes to allowing the parking of mobile food units, or food trucks, in this specified location.

According to the city’s website, food trucks have to apply for a one-year mobile food unit license. Premise permit applications for food trucks must be filled out by the property owner. The city’s current food truck ordinance does not allow units to park on city-owned property or on a city street except for the downtown square.

Even so, a premise permit is required in those instances.

The splash pad made its debut in June this year. Ever since then it has attracted numerous families to the downtown park. The water features make for a quick and fun family outing during the hot summer months. The splash pad was made possible by a local group that fundraised more than $400,000 for its construction.