Naperville food trailer operator warns against excessive regulations on mobile dining

While the Naperville City Council awaits staff recommendations for regulating food trucks, one successful vendor in the city is warning officials about the ramifications of excessive rules.

Britt Harriman - who with her family owns and operates the seasonal Sno Problems shaved ice trailer that sits at the northeast corner of South Webster Street and Aurora Avenue - told city council members at this week's meeting that she and similar vendors may need to vacate Naperville if a potential new permitting system becomes too cumbersome.

The city is considering additional regulations after complaints from residents about the Tacos Monarca food truck set up at a Marathon gas station at 991 W. Ogden Ave. Opponents of the truck say it's unsightly and could cause traffic congestion issues.

Council members in previous meetings have been divided between supporting the entrepreneurship of food truck operators and wanting additional oversight. The ongoing discussion led Harriman to speak out on Tuesday.

"There are many types of mobile and non-brick-and-mortar businesses that work within the city of Naperville," she said. "Those businesses are not unfair, but rather create a diverse range of options to entrepreneurs and to the community. We feel it's unnecessary to impose additional regulations on mobile food vendors in Naperville."

Laura Harriman, Britt's mother, said Sno Problems doesn't attend events in Aurora because of the excessive regulations. Aurora is one of the surrounding communities Naperville is using as a guide for potential ordinances.

Harriman also said their trailer is sometimes contracted less than a week in advance of events in other towns, leaving them little time to gather necessary permits.

No ordinances currently exist for food trucks in Naperville. While DuPage County is responsible for health code permits, the city collects tax revenue as staff becomes aware of trucks.

"We are really trying to find that balance between people who don't respect the rules as well as (Sno Problems) does, and then also not trying to snuff out entrepreneurs," Mayor Steve Chirico said.