Food trucks can now connect to external power sources, rather than relying only on mobile generators, Montgomery City Council agreed in a vote Tuesday to amend the city’s code.
Under the old city code, food trucks had to have their own power supply, rather than connecting to the on-site power supply. “The ordinance basically said that food trucks could only run on a generator,” said city attorney Stacy Bellinger. “But we have a kit even outside the town hall where they can be connected to a power pole.
“This is just a revision of the regulation to allow external electricity sources.”
Andrew Szymański, who co-owns Hilltop Public House in Cottage Hill, said the change would allow his company and others to partner with food trucks and help develop new concepts on the spot. Cities from Birmingham to Nashville and Austin have similar principles and support these kinds of partnerships, he said.
Szymański said that this type of landscape could also develop emerging culinary talents in the city. “There has to be a temporary step between a home licensed business and a full size brickyard,” he said.
Councilman Clay McInnis pressed for the change, which was passed unanimously. He called the prohibitive nature of the old ordinance an unintentional “mistake.”
“It’s just a logical change,” said McInnis.
Contact Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser Reporter at bharper1@gannett.com.
