The Los Banos Planning Commission, at its Nov. 9 meeting, approved two mobile food vendor permits for two mobile food vending units, Tacos Valentina and Paleteria Tapia.
The commission approved a categorical exemption from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approved a mobile food vendor permit for Tacos Valentina, a catering truck that will be located at 830 I Street. The catering truck will vend on private commercial property in the parking lot of The Roundup Sports Bar, where Dutra’s used to be located.
When Commissioner Elias Reyes asked about the connection of the food truck to The Roundup Sports Bar, Community and Economic Development Director Stacy Elms clarified that there is no relation between two businesses, but the owners of The Roundup consented to the mobile food unit to sell on their private property.
The commission then approved another categorical exemption from CEQA and a mobile food vendor permit for Graciela Tapias, who will be doing business as Paleteria Tapia. Paleteria Tapia will be an ice cream truck vending from noon until 6 p.m. on the public right-of-way, which means that the truck will travel from place to place.
Commissioner Katherine Uhley asked if the ice cream truck will play music, and if so, are there any regulations on the volume of the music for mobile food trucks.
Associate Planner Rudy Luquin stated that the truck will play music and specified that the decibel amount for exterior noise standards cannot be exceeded. He added that the applicants can be notified to potentially lower the music if there is any issue.
Luquin noted that the approval of these two permits will bring the of active mobile food vendors in Los Banos to 16, with two being in the public right-of-way.
The commissioners were also scheduled to have a design review study session that evening for the development of 14 medium-density residential lots in the Racquet Club Estates subdivision, but this item has been moved to a later date due to the absence of the applicants.
During her report, Elms announced that the RAD (Relief Across Downtown) Card is back, and users are now eligible to put $200 into the app and the city will match that amount. There are currently over 40 businesses in Los Banos that are participating
The Commission, during their reports, congratulated the owners of the two new mobile food trucks and wished them success in their businesses.
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the next Planning Commission meeting will be Dec. 14.
