On behalf of community forward small business owners in the 18b Arts District of Downtown, we would like to record our opposition to proposal:  Open Air Vending Use 20-0092-SDR1 (20-0092-SUP1)    

           Until adequate and approved infrastructure with regards to public sanitation facilities, beautification, waste management, electrical code compliance, sewage code compliance, water code compliance, gas code compliance, SNHD approval and compliance, grease trap compliance, fire code compliance, alcohol control plan approval, crowd control plan approval, noise control plan approval, traffic control, parking control and ethical oversight of food truck sub-contracts are addressed and provided, we are in direct opposition to this project moving forward.  We insist that the responsibilities for providing the aforementioned requirements fall on the owner/lessor of the proposed lot/site and not fall on any individually licensed food truck or trailer operator due to their transient nature and the inherent difficulties and/or lack of enforcement by proper authorities, ownership and management of the lot.

            We insist that the applicant(s) for this project be held to the same, exact liabilities and project oversight that any brick-and-mortar business, like ours, has been held to prior to approval.  To allow the project to move forward without parallel requirements would confirm a nefarious loophole in existing standard operating procedures and protocols for approval for any potential food and beverage operation moving forward.  The applicant has uncovered this loophole and is all too willing to exploit it for personal gain without regard or respect for surrounding businesses.

            Let it also be recorded that we are categorically in opposition to any assumption put forth by the applicant on our behalf.  It is our belief that our position on the project has been egregiously mis-represented by the applicant, without our knowledge, potentially to the detriment of ours and surrounding businesses.  We have not agreed, and will never, to providing public use of our facilities to patrons other than our own.  We have not agreed, and will never, to shared parking in our private lot or in spaces adjacent to our business to patrons (other than our own) or operators without the expressed authority to do so.  We have not agreed, and will never, to share the burdens of the aforementioned code controls or compliance in any respect with the ownership, management, sub-contractors or operators of the proposed site.

Furthermore, we would like a vote of no confidence in the ethical business practices of the applicant, ownership and management of the proposed site be recorded and considered prior to the final project vote.