Monterey City Council to consider locations for food trucks.

Salinas resident Berenice Gonzalez is persistent. She drew the ire of Cannery Row business owners by setting up her food truck, El Volcan, in the popular district. She defended her right to do business in Monterey, speaking in front of the City Council as business owners lined up to denounce mobile food vendors near their brick-and-mortar establishments.

The City Council amended its mobile food ordinance in December to take away the long-term vending option just as Gonzalez was applying for a permit. The city might have blocked all food trucks if a state law didn’t require cities to allow at least an hour of mobile vending on public property.

Now El Volcan can still be found serving tacos, tortas and burgers an hour at a time on Del Monte Boulevard and other locations.

But the City Council hasn’t been completely hostile to food trucks, and it directed staff to find suitable locations for long-term vending. On April 19, the council will consider 10 locations city staff believe could accommodate food trucks without affecting other businesses.

“We’ve looked at locations outside of downtown that have lots of foot traffic but not many food options,” says Associate Planner Fernanda Roveri.

Locations included Del Monte Boulevard between Camino Aguajito and Camino El Estero, Ryan Ranch Office Park, Cass Street and Dela Vina, Ramona and Hannon Avenues west of Highway 1.

There will likely be lively discussion at the council meeting about other proposed locations, specifically El Volcan’s current favorite spot on Del Monte at the busy Window on the Bay.