Food trucks would be banned on part of Water Street in downtown Milwaukee under a new proposal with citywide regulations planned
The Common Council's Public Safety and Health Committee has recommended banning food trucks on a stretch of Water Street in downtown Milwaukee from East Knapp Street to East Pleasant Street.
The ban would not allow food trucks to park on a stretch of Water Street that is home primarily to residential apartments and office space. Food trucks are still allowed south of Knapp, where most Water Street bars are.
On Thursday night, only one food truck, Oaxaca Taqueria, was selling food on the part of the street where the ban is being proposed. The operator of the food truck did not want to comment on the proposal.
Ald. Jonathan Brostoff, who wrote the proposal and represents that stretch of Water Street, said this is a quick fix and that more sweeping legislation on food trucks is in the works.
New legislation aimed at some 'bad actors' to provide a short-term fix on Water Street
"Severely bad actors in the food truck arena are causing issues, and we want to have a short-term solution," Brostoff said.
He said that some food truck operators have engaged in excessive litter, damaged cars, gone to the bathroom along the street, and poured grease in the sidewalks, streets and sewers.
"There are also issues of people just doing other disrespectful, illegal things," he said.
Other food truck bans have been enacted in Milwaukee with citywide regulations planned
Bans on food trucks around the city have been handed down one by one, creating sort of a piecemeal approach. That includes a 2017 ban of food trucks on East Brady Street and a 2019 ban on West National Avenue.
Brostoff and Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa, who represents District 8 on the city's south side, are working on legislation to create citywide standards and regulations for food trucks.
"This is basically an issue not just on this portion of Water Street, but has been going on in a lot of parts of the city," Brostoff said. "We currently don't have proper regulatory structure for food trucks."
The Public Safety and Health committee recommendation will go to the full Common Council, which meets April 18.
More: Plans for Milwaukee's newest food truck park are underway on the west side
More: Heirloom MKE food truck looking to take over Lazy Susan space in Bay View
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee considering banning food trucks on part of Water Street
