(A) Required. The Permit Administrator shall oversee the issuance, suspension and revocation of Mobile Food Vendor Permits. No mobile food service vehicle may operate within the City without a Mobile Food Vendor Permit issued by the City. A Mobile Food Vendor Permit authorizes the holder only to engage in the vending of products from a mobile food service vehicle in compliance with this Ordinance and as specified on the permit. The Mobile Food Vendor Permit must be prominently displayed when the mobile food service vehicle is in operation. This section shall not apply to contractual arrangements between a mobile food service vehicle operator and any individual, group or entity for pre-arranged catering at a specific location upon private property, provided that the mobile food service vehicle is not open to or serving the general public. A person authorized and participating in an event, as recommended by the City Manager and as approved by the City Council, designated as a community-oriented event shall not be deemed to be a mobile food vendor during the event at the event site for purposes of this Ordinance; the Mt. Vernon Fall Festival, Cedarhurst Craft Fair, Mt. Vernon Farmer’s Market, Fourth of July Salute to Freedom, Festival’s Inc. Market Days, Paw Fest, Mt. Vernon Homebrewer’s Festival, Midwestern Herb and Garden Show, Southern Illinois Home and Outdoor Expo, Southern Illinois Steel Guitar Show, Midwest Light Aircraft Expo, Jefferson County Historical Village Heritage Festival, Mt. Vernon Knife Show, Ash Bash Music & Art Festival, United Way Food Truck Fest, Christmas Craft Fair, and Exotic Pet Expo are each designated within this Ordinance by the City Council as a community-oriented event; other events may be so designated by Resolution of the City Council.
(B) Application.
(1) In order to obtain a Mobile Food Vendor Permit, a mobile food service vehicle operator must complete an application form provided by the City Clerk. The application shall include the following information:
(a) Name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the vehicle.
(b) Name, address and telephone number of the operator of the vehicle and a copy of said operator’s valid driver’s license.
(c) Color photographs of the exterior (front, side, and back) of the vehicle in its final condition and with all markings under which it will operate.
(d) A copy of the vehicle license and registration form reflecting the vehicle identification number (V1N) of the vehicle and current registration.
(e) A copy of a state or county health department license or permit applicable to mobile food providers. A copy of any current state or county health department license or permit from anther jurisdiction may be accepted by the Permit Administrator, although such acceptance does not negate the Applicant’s responsibility to comply with permit requirements of the Jefferson County Health Department.
(f) A copy of the applicant’s certificate of registration under the Retailers’ Occupation Tax Act.
(g) A certificate of insurance coverage, including required motor vehicle insurance coverage and liability insurance coverage.
(h) A signed acknowledgement that the operator has read this Ordinance and will comply with all applicable requirements herein.
(i) Any additional information required by the permit administrator.
(2) Submittal of an application for a Mobile Food Vendor Permit for a food truck must be accompanied by payment of an application fee in the amount of $25.00 per day or $200.00 for a 30 day period and an application for a Mobile Food Vendor Permit for an ice cream truck must be accompanied by payment of an application fee in the amount of $25.00 per day or $300.00 per year, provided that for any mobile food service vehicle for which the Permit Administrator reasonably determines has been identified to be operating within the City without a current Mobile Food Vendor Permit during any part of a 12 month period prior to date of application, the application fee shall be double the stated amount.
(3) Each Mobile Food Vendor Permit holder shall have an ongoing duty to provide the City with notice of any change to any of the information submitted with its permit application, including current photographs of the mobile food service vehicle in the event of any change in the appearance of or signage on the vehicle.
(C) Issuance/denial. A Mobile Food Vendor Permit shall be issued upon verification that an application has been completed in accordance with the requirements of this Section, except that no such Permit will be issued to an operator whose Permit is currently suspended or has been revoked within the preceding 12 months, or to any person who intends to operate the same mobile food service vehicle for which the operator’s Permit is currently suspended or has been revoked within the preceding 12 months. If the Permit Administrator denies the application, such denial shall be in writing and provided to the applicant. The decision of the Permit Administrator to deny a Mobile Food Vendor Permit may be appealed to the City Manager as set forth in this Ordinance.
(D) Transferability. A Mobile Food Vendor Permit may not be transferred.
(Prior Code, Art. 11, § 11.18(E))