Members of the Kingston Common Council’s Laws and Rules Committee voiced support for some elements in Alderwoman Jeanne Edwards’ proposal to place new restrictions on food trucks in the city but expressed skepticism about others.

Edwards, whose Fourth Ward takes in a stretch of the Broadway Corridor where a number of food trucks operate, has been trying to get fellow lawmakers to act on new rules for the mobile eateries since the spring when she first brought up the issue. In communications to the council Edwards said that since taking office in January she had fielded numerous complaints from constituents about the trucks permanently occupying parking spots, blocking sightlines at intersections and obstructing traffic on narrow residential streets. Edwards said she had also heard from restaurant owners who complained about unfair competition from the trucks.

“I really urge that we do this for public safety,” Edwards told committee members at a Sept. 18 meeting. “For some people, most people dealing with the streets of Kingston this is a very important topic.”

Edwards has proposed a solution that includes a ban on food trucks parking on city streets when they are not in operation or parking within 30 feet of an intersection. Other elements of the plan include a one-truck limit at each city park, a ban on food trucks in residential neighborhoods and a provision that would pull food truck owners’ operating license after five violations. Edwards said some elements of the plan, like blocking the view at intersections or leaving commercial vehicles on the street overnight are already on the books but are not consistently enforced.

“Maybe we could have some stiff enforcement, then everybody could be happy and we could just drop it,” said Edwards. “But that’s not happening.”

Reaction to Edwards’ plan on the five-member committee was mixed. All members supported public safety elements like the ban on parking too close to intersections but some suggested that other parts be modified or dropped. Council President Andrea Shaut, for example, noted that the city’s new zoning code did away with residential-only zones and any proposed legislation would have to define “residential neighborhood in that context.” Shaut also said she favors some kind of permitting system for food trucks at city parks rather than a potentially conflict-causing situation where multiple food trucks could be vying to grab the single available spot. Alderman Michael Tierney (D-Ward 2) said he was concerned that the legislation could be seen as singling out food trucks given that other commercial vehicles, like landscaping trailers, pose some of the same issues.

“How can we be regulating one type of commercial vehicle on the street rather than all commercial vehicles,” said Tierney. “It seems like this could be perceived as us targeting one industry.”

Edwards, who told the committee she was open to changes in the proposal, now plans to sit down with Assistant Corporation Counsel Matthew Janikowski to begin turning the plan into an actual resolution. That legislation will come back to the committee next month for review and a possible vote.