Milwaukee alders working toward citywide legislation for food trucks

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- City leaders are aiming to replace what they call a patchwork of rules and regulations for food trucks with uniform citywide ordinances.

At Tuesday's Common Council meeting, the legislative body approved a temporary ban on food truck activity on Water Street between East Knapp Street and East Pleasant Street. The ban will end on May 31, by which time, alders hope, a larger plan will be put in place to address concerns around the operation of food trucks across the city.

"We are working on a more comprehensive solution so that our food trucks can continue to exist and flourish in the community alongside the brick-and-mortar restaurants that are also here and alongside the neighbors, the constituents of the city of Milwaukee," Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa told CBS 58.

Zamarripa is spearheading the effort alongside Alderman Jonathan Brostoff.

"Right now, we just have a system of rules in place and guidance that aren't quite clear enough," Brostoff said Tuesday. "We just have to tighten some things a little better so that the bad operators can get out of the way and the good operators can operate better."

The alders hope issues around littering, disruptive behavior and operation locations can be addressed.

A public hearing is scheduled for later in April with the full legislation expected to be ready for the full Common Council's consideration in late May.