Eau Claire’s eaters can expect to see more food trucks on city streets in the near future. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to greatly expand where food trucks can serve up curbside consumables in the city. Under the new ordinance, licensed food trucks will be able to operate on most city streets and in certain parks.

Councilwoman Catherine Emmanuelle lauded the ordinance, saying it is another step toward improving the quality of life in the city. “I am thrilled that our city is taking up a food truck policy,” she told council members before the vote. “I think that this policy is making small business ownership more accessible to people. This will help people who don’t have the capital to start out in bricks and mortar.”

Under the new ordinance, food trucks will be allowed to operate between the hours of 8am and 11pm as long as they follow certain rules, including staying out of residential neighborhoods, keeping 200 feet away from restaurants, obeying parking and traffic laws, and remaining in one place no longer than four hours at a time. In addition, food trucks will be allowed in Owen, Phoenix, Carson, Riverview, Soccer, and Pinehurst parks, although they won’t be allowed in these parks – or within 500 feet of them – if the parks are hosting special events.

As originally written, the ordinance would have allowed trucks to serve patrons until 2am in the Water Street area. However, that provision was removed Tuesday after some residents told the council at a hearing Monday that such extended hours would aggravate problems with late-night drunkenness in the Historic Randall Park Neighborhood. 

Eau Claire is already home to a handful of food trucks, which have been allowed to operate on private property, at festivals, and – since last summer – in a handful of parks on a trial basis. Expect to see these trucks (and probably more like them) serving up savory street food soon on a street near you.