Casper City Council Amends Mobile Vendor Rules for Special Conditions
The Casper City Council again tweaked last year's mobile vendor parking permit ordinance on a first reading at its regular meeting Tuesday.
The revisions added language allowing special city council approval regarding special events or extraordinary circumstances of nearby business owners.
The proposed revisions arose at council's work session last week in conjunction with the College National Finals Rodeo.
City Manager Carter Napier said Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitter on East Second Street wanted to bring in a mobile vendor but would need an extension to make it worthwhile for both businesses. The city extended the permit for the number of days and the hours during the day.
Last week, Chris Walsh said this could smack of favoritism, so he and Mayor Charlie Powell suggested amending the ordinance to authorize variances on a case-by-case basis.
"If we leave a window in there where other people with other significant needs or use would be able to get the same opportunity, I would be in support of it," Walsh said.
But Shawn Houck, co-owner of Frontier Brewing on East Second Street and an advocate of food trucks and other vendors downtown,
Three council members voted against the revision: Ray Pacheco, Steve Freel and Khrystyn Lutz.