Midvale vote may spell end for some taco carts
Decision » Council members reject having a grandfather clause for existing vendors.
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?articleId=13763935&siteId=297
Midvale »At least three of the city's five taco carts could close by January because the City Council refused to adjust its earlier decision and make exceptions for them.
In May, the council approved a new vending cart ordinance with tighter restrictions. Taco cart owners and a few supporters later asked city leaders to grandfather existing carts into the new law because they cannot afford to buy new carts.
But after about two months of debate, the council on Tuesday in a 3-1 vote rejected the Midvale Planning Commission's recommendation to allow the existing carts.
Councilman Brent Moore was the only member to vote against the motion because he supported the grandfather clause.
The council approved an amendment to the ordinance to allow carts up to four feet by six feet.
During the meeting, City Associate Planner Lesley Burns told the council the city's ordinance was "simpler" than the one in West Valley City. However, in West Valley City, carts can be up to eight feet by 19 feet. A West Valley City spokesman said there was no need to include a grandfather clause in its ordinance because it was created to include all the various sizes of its existing carts.
In Salt Lake City, carts can be up to three feet by eight feet.
Councilman Paul Glover said the point of the new ordinance was to upgrade the look of vending carts and improve Midvale's image.
"If we grandfather it, it doesn't accomplish anything," Glover said.
Councilman Wayne Sharp agreed, saying he's heard from residents who are happy with the new law.
Councilwoman Colleen Costello said the council is very supportive of businesses and resents that some people said the council was being unfair by not supporting the grandfather clause.
"We are not mean-spirited," she said. "We just want everyone on the same page."
Jesse Gonzalez, a Taylorsville resident, spoke to the council on behalf of the taco cart owners, who mostly speak Spanish, and their families who attended Tuesday's meeting.
Gonzalez said owners cannot afford to down-size their carts because of the poor economy.
"These are hard-working people who are looking to have the American dream and work in your beautiful city of Midvale," he said. "Having the taco venders has added a little spice to Midvale."
After the meeting, cart owners said it would cost between $5,000 and $12,000 to replace their carts and buy new ones to comply with the ordinance before January if they want to remain in Midvale.
But business aside, they said they're worried about providing for their families and the upcoming holidays.
Yenni Magaña, a single mother, owns Tacos El Parente, a cart she bought two years ago and still hasn't paid it off.
"I don't have the money to go by another one," Magaña said. "I don't know what I'm going to do."
Tacos El Cuñado has been around for about eight years. Josue Onofre, a Midvale resident, bought the trailer from his uncle for $12,000 about five years ago and just finished making payments earlier this year.
Onofre said he has never had problems with the city and doesn't understand why the council refused to support him and the other cart owners. He said it'll be hard to sell his trailer.
Roberto Mendoza opened Tacos Don Miguel about seven years ago. He said he'll work to find the money to get a new cart to comply with the ordinance because supporting his three children depends on it.
"Christmas is going to be sad," Miguel said. "The little savings we have to surprise our loved ones might not be enough."
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