Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District

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Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District

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Minneapolis Food Trucks

• History– Longstanding ordinance allowing food carts on

Nicollet Mall– 2010 - new ordinance allowing mobile food vendors

(food trucks) on sidewalks and in parking lots • 6 vendors first year

– 2011 modification of ordinance to allow MFV locations at meters and in transit lane of Marquette and 2nd Avenues (off peak)

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Minneapolis Food Trucks

• History (con’t)– 2011 modification of ordinance to allow MFV

locations at meters and in transit lane of Marquette and 2nd Avenues • 26 licenses granted in 2011

– 2012 no ordinance changes. City implemented new parking meters on Marquette and 2nd Avenues• 43 licenses granted in 2012• Explosion of trucks in downtown

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Minneapolis Food Trucks

• Ordinance– Approved Locations: Nicollet Mall sidewalk (with prior

approval), meters, transit lanes (off Peak) – Minimum of 180 days selling– Not within 500 feet of festival, 100’ of restaurant entrance on

same block face– Nominal license fee– MFV must be associated with commercial kitchen– Vehicle must be licensed by City Health Dept– Cooking is permitted, (food carts = prepared food only)– Must plug the meter

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Mpls Food Trucks• Advantages– Vibrancy• Public loves them• A draw for downtown

(e.g. Rail-gating)– Media• Many features on how

“cool” Minneapolis is with all the new food choices

Star TribuneCity PagesThe Downtown JournalBlogsFacebookTwitterLocal television

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Minneapolis Food Trucks• Disadvantages– Loss of business

• Brick and mortar businesses experience significant loss of business– Favoritism

• Low barriers to entry penalize brick and mortar establishments• Perception of favoritism (e.g low license fee, no property tax,

opportunities created for trucks but not for restaurants)– Clean up

• Grease on sidewalks• Trash• People sit or lean against buildings

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Minneapolis Food Trucks• Disadvantages (con’t)– Right of Way

• Crowded right of way• Loss of business and inhibited access for non-food related

businesses located in key areas due to crowds• Loss of parking spots for businesses

– Maintenance• Damage to sidewalks (for MFV located on sidewalks )

– Traffic• Large vehicles trolling for spots clog arteries during rush hour• Large vehicles block critical signage when parked

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Next Steps

1. Today: DID Board of Director’s Meeting – Input/Reactions

2. Stakeholder Briefing Document– Overview of current situation & why a GNPO is needed in Downtown.– Study Overview & Recommendations

3. Brief Key Stakeholders on Results of Study– Sponsors of Study; Civic, Funding, Private and Public Leaders; Implementation

Partners

4. 7/17/2012 DID Board Vote5. Launch Activities (if approved on 7/17/2012)

– Begin Fundraising for New Staff– Creation of Fundraising Capability– Launch 1-2 Projects

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Lessons learned• Partnership between business community and

policy makers is critical• Ability to manage where vendors locate• Develop plan for the inevitable effects (trash,

crowding, restrooms, eating areas• Engage brick and mortar restaurants in some of

the benefits • Clear guidelines for operators with penalties

outlined