Battle Ground resident MaKayla Hopper never intended to be a food cart operator.
Hopper and her husband, Brian, had plans to open a restaurant featuring authentic Kansas-style barbecue. They were planning restaurant details when Brian was diagnosed with leukemia.
The couple and their kids had to walk away from their Battle Ground home, Brian’s business and their restaurant dreams to move to Seattle, where Brian received treatment. Brian died in March from a staph infection as he waited for a bone marrow transplant.
Hopper suddenly found herself without her husband, her home and any income. The Vancouver church Hopper attends, City Harvest Church, knew of Hopper’s restaurant aspirations and gave her a mobile food cart.
From there, Holy Smoke … It’s Big B’s BBQ — named in Brian’s memory — was born.
Hopper was just one of more than half a dozen people who inquired about opening a food cart in Battle Ground last year. In the past, the city denied requests to operate self-contained food carts because it has no policies on the books. The surging interest, however, prompted city officials to establish regulations for operating the units, Planning Supervisor Sam Crummett said.
The planning commission sought public input on the issue and drafted a set of proposed regulations. The city council reviewed the proposal Monday night and asked staff to draft an ordinance to establish a city code regarding mobile food units.
The proposed regulations would allow only three mobile food carts in the city and require operators to obtain permits and a business license. Carts must be connected to city water through food-grade hoses and adequately contain and dispose of used water at designated disposal sites, Crummett said.
Carts must also pass all restaurant inspections required by the county health department.
The proposal also includes regulations about where the carts can be located — not in residential zones, on city property or within 100 feet of an established restaurant, for example — and requires an inspection by the fire marshal, he said.
Hopper was granted a one-year temporary-use permit to operate her food cart in the Value Giant parking lot, given she follow the proposed regulations, Crummett said.
Hopper has operated the cart since November. She offers pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches made from meat smoked over hickory wood and slathered in her own tangy sauce. She also serves ribs, pit beans and coleslaw.
“The reaction’s been amazing,” Hopper said. “Everybody loves it.”
When reviewing the proposal Monday night, the city council agreed with a majority of the regulations. Most of the concerns voiced by council members revolved around limiting the number of stands.
“The planning commission came up with three because the sentiment was they did not want to have a flood of these and diminish existing restaurants,” Crummet said.
In Multnomah County, Ore., for example, about 600 permits have been issued for mobile food carts, he said. The limitation will not apply to food vendors who want to operate at the farmer’s market and city festivals, he added.
Councilman Alex Reinhold said he thought the market would do a sufficient job of limiting stands. In addition, Reinhold said, the stands typically offer food you cannot find in a drive-through or sit-down restaurant, such as a Portland stand that sells bacon jerky.
Councilman Paul Zandamela said he was uncomfortable with limiting the number of mobile carts.
“I think competition is good,” Zandamela said. “If a restaurant will fail because of a food cart, maybe they should change their business model.”
Councilman Bill Ganley supported limiting the number of stands. Regulations will protect the businesses who invest in “bricks and mortar and pay taxes,” as opposed to mobile food carts, Ganley said.
“I want to make sure everyone is on an equal playing field and that nobody has an unfair advantage,” he said.
Councilwoman Lisa Walters and Councilman Chris Regan also voiced concern about keeping the carts mobile.
“I’ve seen some of these that start out as mobile … and then they’re put on blocks,” Regan said. “It’s a slippery slope.”
The city council will review the ordinance and hold a public hearing at future meetings before voting on the regulations.
Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.
