If you were to ask me what a “food truck” was a year ago, I’d probably tell you stories about my time working in the Valencia Industrial Center and hearing the call over the PA system that a “roach coach” had arrived. Or maybe I’d think about the Mexican produce trucks that cruise slowly down the streets of Newhall, their cavernous interiors open at the rear with fruits and vegetables dangling just feet above the street.
But if you ask me now, there’s only one thing that comes to mind when someone mentions “food trucks.” Twitter-connected foodies, rushing to meet and get in line for hip food trucks that dish out amazing food late at night.
Indeed, the mobile gourmet food truck “scene” has grown so popular and hot in Los Angeles in the last year that its long, tasty tentacles have reached all the way up to square Santa Clarita, a place that pines for Cheesecake Factory above all else. As the Signal and KHTS have both reported, we now have four food trucks that visit the SCV regularly. And hundreds of Twitter connected SCVers line up for them, spending thousands of dollars each week to gorge themselves on food I never heard of growing up.
And that leaves me not only hungry, but concerned.
You see, just last week, the City of Santa Clarita solved a problem few knew existed: rogue auto dealers were setting up shop, selling cars to presumably willing buyers, and pissing off Creekside and the City. There were no media reports about this, no stories of victims getting hoodwinked or the taxpayers getting ripped off. Nothing.
What was the problem exactly? According to the item, the dealers were appearing in places they shouldn’t have been, and they were competing with businesses the City felt it had to protect:
The Vehicle Services Overlay Zone does not, however, regulate the location of automobile retail uses. There has been a recent proliferation of retail automobile and light trucks sales businesses throughout the City, including areas outside the Vehicle Services Overlay Zone. City staff is concerned about the negative impacts that these businesses are having and may have on local businesses and the community in general and feel that the current regulatory scheme is inadequate.
The solution to this problem no one knew existed was drastic: an “urgency ordinance” was adopted by council that forbid any car dealers from opening in the city for the next 45 days. Yes, we actually issued a moratorium on a certain type of business. And it wasn’t massage parlors.
You may have thought Santa Clarita was well-regarded as a business friendly city. What you and I missed, however, was that you have to be the right kind of business, a connected business, a made business even, if you want the City’s protections and benefits.
Call it a hunch, but I bet if you polled our out-of-touch City Council, they’d say that food trucks take money (steal?) out of the pockets of local restauranteers and chains alike, that they take in thousands of dollars and then jet down to LA with their money. Oh sure, they’d couch it in more friendly terms, (“We need to protect the City’s commercial retail trade and look out for food safety”) but it’s not that much of a stretch, is it? That’s what the rogue car dealer item was all about, after all.
Think I’m crazy? Well this battle is going on down in LA right now. KCRW’s Good Food radio show talked to a writer who has been looking into how restaurants are distressed and upset over the food truck scene. Listen in at about the 12:30 minute mark below:
Currently, selling “prepared foods” in a truck is legal in Santa Clarita. But these food trucks aren’t selling prepared foods, they’re cooking meals. The 2008 ordinance (Chapter 11.37) that forbid certain peddling and solicitation activities (again, in the interests of protecting local businesses, though they claimed food safety was an issue too) doesn’t seem to address these types of gourmet food trucks, which come into town, park for a few hours, cook and sell food, then split.
In other words the situation is ripe for the City to issue another “urgency ordinance” for the protection of local businesses, just like they did with the auto dealers.
In the interests of SCV food literacy and diversity, you have my word I’ll keep an eye out for this. And raise holy hell if it happens.
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Don’t give em any ideas Jeff…
One of the TV channels has been running spots in their news slots regarding these traveling gourmet trucks. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is now the norm for many folks other than construction workers (like it was when I was a kid).
This is the irony that drives me nuts. Every one of the elected council members AND the dealers on Auto Row would state they are sympathetic to the Tea Party but think NOTHING of putting on ordinances that restrain lawful trade which are barely disguised efforts at mercantilism from the 18th and 19th centuries.
As a businessman myself, I believe it is the city’s responsibility, since it collects taxes from legitimate businesses, to enforce business codes. Just keep in mind that these rogue businesses do not pay the taxes that are required of legitimate businesses in The Santa Clarita Valley and therefore get to use our City to make a profit without paying their fair share. Liberals that see the collection and disbursement of taxes as the government’s primary roll should be at supporting the city and it’s efforts to weed out tax cheats and those who take and do not give back to this community.
Should these businesses pay the same taxes and follow the law the same as other admitted businesses in Santa Clarita, I will support and patronize them. Until then, I have the Sheriff’s department on speed dial.
Kevin:
I believe these mysterious three auto sellers were properly permitted. What is the City’s interest in shutting them down if not to protect more “favored” businesses?
So you can tell whether a car dealer/food truck is paying taxes just by looking at them? That’s pretty impressive.
I can…
…and you can’t?
You have a license to determine those things.
huh?
Whut?
ah cute… Fred <3 Government regulation.
@Kevin, once again, I find myself in total agreement with your comments.
Why should these food trucks get to make money and not follow the same rules as other legitimate businesses in Santa Clarita? Less compliance with the rules, permits, oversight, and attendant expenses involved creates an unfair advantage over those folks who are following the rules, paying the fees, etc.
As to the auto sales moratorium, I have no love for the auto row guys but again why should anyone be allowed to set up shop wherever they want regardless of zoning, sometimes in residential areas, sell cars mostly as cash only sales so no tax collected or protections for the buyer either. These people are placing all those businesses that do comply with zoning, permits, hazardous waste disposal, tax collection, etc at a distinct disadvantage to the others. It is the same issue with licensed contractors vs. unlicensed.
Jeff, your posts are becoming more and more disconcerting. I am getting the impression you would allow everyone to enter the USA illegally and remain, collect public assistance benefits, set up any business they choose without appropriate permits so their income cannot be tracked, many times in an area not zoned for that particular business, where the business may not declare all profits, pay taxes, follow health and safety laws, provide workman’s comp or any insurance for employees, pay minimum wage, submit to inspections, or anything else required of LEGITIMATE businesses.
I am with Kevin, I have enough “food vendors” and others with carts and roach coaches in my neighborhood honking and ringing their bells to advertise their “arrival”. I do not need anymore not even if they are of the “gourmet” variety.
I will call the Sherriff or the City of Santa Clarita Community Preservation, whichever is the appropriate agency to contact!
Berta, I can see your point on the food trucks having an unfair advantage, and I agree they should be fully compliant with all the various rules and regulations governing restaurants. As for the auto dealers, though, I completely disagree with you.
The City passed the moratorium as an urgency ordinance, saying that the independent dealers (which were issued licenses and permits by the City, incidentally) posed a threat to public health and safety. They failed to mention any concrete damages endured by any party. The City said there has been a “proliferation” of these business–the Signal mentions that only three opened, and all of them last year. The only person to give a comment on the item was Hunt Braly, a lobbyist paid for by the big auto dealers association.
Just as with the libraries, there was no “problem” here until the City stepped in and made one. In response to your question of “why should anyone be allowed to set up shop wherever they want regardless of zoning?”, I think it’s clear that the City is willing to bend or break zoning rules for projects they like (e.g., Henry Mayo office buildings), but will enforce them for businesses that don’t fall in line with their vision.
@IHeartSCV, I was not thinking about the “3” auto dealers. I was thinking of the multiple “spontaneous” car dealers along Sierra Highway and elsewhere that park a bunch of cars, put up a for sale sign, and open up shop most likely without permits, etc.
I am not personally familiar with the “3” permitted dealers, just all of these “independent” dealers, which would also be affected by a moratorium to allow City staff to determine the scope of the problem and what needs to be done for future regulation.
Again, Berta, I think those three auto dealers were properly permitted in a properly zoned area. The City is now going to change the rules to effectively restrict auto businesses to Auto Row, which is mercantilism plain and simple, though those three will probably be grandfathered, but if they change ownership the grandfathering will probably be voided.
Berta:
Weren’t you in code compliance hell with the City over some unpermitted construction activity? Was part of the deal that you had to be their cheerleader and mouthpiece at every step fo the way?
@NFIC/TBB, old news but I will recap yet again.
I purchased a house in 1993 from the original owners. The house was constructed in 1961 and apparently had several changes made in 1963. A disgruntled neighbor upset with my community involvement, particularly as a Neighborhood Safe House, filed a complaint with the City a few years after I bought the house. It turns out the neighbor guy was a known pedophile, unbeknownst to me, and did not appreciate the increased Sherriff’s presence on my street. The City brought action against me because of his complaint. I was unable to find or produce permits although no disclosures were made to me at the time of sale, and the house was built in unincorporated County where not all records where sent to the City upon incorporation transfer. The construction was beautifully done, and looked just like the rest of the house. I did not measure the square footage when I bought it and relied on the Home Inspector I paid to alert me to any problems, which apparently he failed to do. All of the “professionals” such as Title Company, Escrow, Realtors, Home Inspectors involved were long gone by the time the City brought action.
It was my sole problem. I did not like it but I dealt with it. I worked with the City and spent approximately $25,000 of my own money to bring the house into compliance so that I could keep my house. Therefore, you see removing some extra driveway cement at about $200 does not get a whole lot of sympathy from me.
I think it is terribly irresponsible and unfair for current property owners to make alterations without permits and then demand they get a free pass when caught, as do your Bonelli and Al’s North Oaks friends, where I live. The next owner may not be so lucky and winds up paying the tab for someone else’s choices as I did.
You knew all of this NFIC/TBB yet you and Ferdman never uttered one word to help me. I managed to get things done without you or storming City Hall with 30 people in tow. One more reason I questioned your “motives”.
It is fine with me if you consider me a cheerleader for the City. Unlike you I can differentiate between what are legal requirements, safety issues, good ideas etc and nefarious plots devised to get me. I think the City does a great job, for the most part, ensuring we enjoy a good quality of life in Santa Clarita. I hope to be able to participate in whatever way I can to continue the effort to improve our neighborhoods and our City and not just by complaining loudly either. NO ONE will deter me.
I am nobody’s mouthpiece either NFIC/TBB and you of all people know that. I think and speak for myself. That is probably what bothers you the most about me. I am fine with that too.
Wait a second, you aren’t really implying that “Need for involved citizenry” is also TimBen Boydston are you? I am guessing your conspiracy theories have gotten the best of you as TBB has no problem owning his opinions, love him or hate him he is not an anonymous sort.
Berta
You again are displaying a very selective memory.
When you were in process of dealing with your code issues, you asked me to visit your house and look at the problem. At the time I saw your project, you had already started re-construction and the contractor was living in a motor home in front of your home. The roof by the car port was torn back to show the extra raftering to support the tile roof, holes were cut into the converted garage drywall to investigate the insulation installed, the metal framed shed on the right side of your house was being readied for dismantling and the metal framing for the Fire Place Façade was open to show how that was constructed. My advise to you was to have some of the construction, such as the fire place façade and additional roof raftering “engineered” rather than reframing it. You told me, you had already started to mitigate the issues raised by the city and did not want to change course. I think that Building and Safety was very considerate of your needs and worked out a good compromise, particularly in the area of your carport.
Looking at existing neighborhoods and determining how to apply codes written many years after homes were constructed is an issue Planning and Code Enforcement is having to wrestle with. At the city’s last meeting with Bonnelli residents, Planning Staff indicated a realization of just that issue. Proposals to resolve these problems using “Directors Policies” and “Form Based Zoning” are being discussed as we speak.
Residents all over the city deserve reasonable consideration when discussing code issues. Speaking out in favor of providing that level of consideration for all Santa Clarita’s existing neighborhoods is something I have done and will continue to do in the future. Ultimately, finding a solution for the issue of existing neighborhoods and new codes will benefit the entire city.
@Alan Ferdman, I will not address each one of your statements but will address this one. You were well aware of my situation long before as you say I invited you to take a look at my house and as far as I am aware neither you nor TBB DID OR SAID ANYTHING on my behalf. Several other people did make calls to City Manager George Caravalho and the City Council members asking that they work with me to resolve the issue fairly BUT YOU GUYS WERE NOT AMONG THEM.
It was a situation I did not cause or create. Working with staff through a long arduous process, my situation was resolved at considerable expense to me and with no help from any of you knights in shining armor.
By the way, I never had any contractor living in a motor home in front of my house either. My contractor for that project has a beautiful home in Sand Canyon. A guy that still rents a room in my house had a motor home at one time and did occasionally have it parked in front of my house but did not live in it so again you are misinformed or have a faulty memory.
I have always said that in areas that are a little fuzzy staff should and does work with residents to achieve the best possible results. You on the other hand have told people in various neighborhoods they should not cooperate and comply with code citations to the detriment of both themselves and their neighborhoods including mine. Those residents remain vulnerable to complaints and the next owners may well have to pay the piper for them as I did.
My memory is fine Al and apparently much better than yours.
@Alan Ferdman by the way, my project required engineered plans approved well before the City allowed any work to be done so if you came and rafters were exposed engineering and permits had already been obtained.
BGH
I do not post under other names, and I am not NFIC. I personally know two of the people who you have accused me of being. Please stop.
I did not really know who you were, only as a citizen who was somewhat involved, until I left the Council. You were a supporter and you thought I would be good for the office.
Then the good people of the Bonnelli tract asked for my help because of all the trouble they were having with the “Extreme Neighborhood Makeover” wherein the city was making unreasonable demands through over-reaching proactive code enforcement. According to the homeowners, they were being threatened with fines and jail time if they did not comply.
Their problems were not being addressed as you have stated many times, otherwise there would not have been 30 angry homeowners at the meeting that Al and I attended, and almost 100 at the meeting that the city hosted. Al was there at my invitation because of his experience with that program in your area of North Oaks. You were very unhappy because you felt the city was going to cancel the program. You called me and left a message.
I returned your call and then had a conversation which you have mis-characterized many times in this blog . You became very angry because I disagreed with you.
It was the first time I had ever heard of your own code issues with the city. I do not kow how I was supposed to help you, when you indicated that you had found a solution long before I knew anything about this.
I was, (and still am) amazed that the city allowed you to turn your garage into legal living space. If anyone owns property like yours in North Oaks and wants to turn their garage into legal living space, you should act as their consultant and tell them how.
When we finished our conversation, I said that we would have to agree to disagree on the “Makeover” issue. You were, and still appear to be, very unhappy about this.
As a candidate, I expected that many things that are not true would be said about me. I was silent to your repeated attacks. I am not now a candidate, and I do not appreciate your continuing to smear my name.
WARNING LONG RESPONSE!
@TBB, The proactive enforcement in the Bonelli Tract was started because of the number of reactive complaints by other Bonelli residents who did not “elicit your assistance”. As I recall during the Extreme Neighborhood Makeover it was something along the lines of 19 homes that received code citations out of 130 residences involved.
You continue to repeat the same blatant lies that no one from the City had contacted those poor disgruntled residents before you and they appeared before Council, or that the Community Preservation Officer threatened them. The young man from the City responded to Emmy’s and others questions on what would happen if they did not comply and spent quite some time speaking with her and answering her questions. Unlike you, I spoke with the parties involved other than Emmy who all said the same things independently of each other. I asked Emmy Bonja a question when she provided your testimonial before the CCAC. I already had the answer before I asked her but wanted to see if she would answer truthfully.
You continue to misstate the facts. I NEVER said their problems were not being addressed. On the contrary, I repeatedly said that Tina Haddad in the City Manager’s office called and assured everyone that she had contact information for, that all enforcement, fines, etc were on hold pending community meetings to discuss these issues with all of the affected residents. The residents were not ignored nor did
you and they need to storm Council Chambers to have their issues heard.
Since you reference Al Ferdman, he has been quite two faced regarding the North Oaks area since he himself called in many complaints on certain residents then turned around and objected when others who came to him with violations for the same thing complained. On top of that, he went around telling people I was calling in thousands of complaints when he was making the complaints knowing I could not clear my name since the City will not identify the complaining party. I had people threatening me and asking my neighbors personal information about me.
I have never mischaracterized the “discussion” we had. I say again and will say it to your face if you prefer, you refused to let me speak, talked over me, yelled at me and said repeatedly “you don’t know what you are talking about” without letting me complete a sentence. You would not let me get a word in edgewise and were a loud obnoxious bully. The very thing you accuse Mr. Ferry of being.
I think you like to misrepresent the facts. The City did not let me turn my garage into living space. The City allowed me to legalize a previous conversion and carport addition constructed in 1963 by the original owners. Alterations that would have been allowed at the time they were originally done and may in fact have been permitted but which I could not prove. I was allowed to pull permits and do a whole lot of expensive work only after submitting engineering and plans for approval, and paying for permits and fines.
I had to bring these previous alterations up to current building and safety codes and make all the changes that were required of me, and of course have all work inspected and passed by City building inspectors.
The City did not give me a free pass by any stretch of the imagination.
I would be very happy to assist anyone in MY SITUATION who bought an older home, which had been altered by previous owners, and they now have to bring into compliance. I would not volunteer to help anyone who knowingly made changes without proper permits and without observing local ordinances and who now claim foul when they are caught. Or have issues worth under $500 dollars to repair.
You were in Santa Clarita while I was going through this whole issue and I was certainly not quiet about it. In fact, I addressed Council at a public hearing and remember speaking to you about your mom’s house and the potential golf course, now Robinson Ranch, at that meeting so I find it hard to believe you were oblivious, but have it your way.
I am unhappy that because of you and Ferdman, my tract and neighborhood has stopped being cleaned up equitably with proactive community preservation efforts. We have no CC&Rs and only have building codes and local ordinances to protect our neighborhoods from further deterioration. We were seeing some progress before Bonelli got you to jump in there for them and everything stopped here too. In fact, some houses which had been cleaned up in North Oaks are now back to their deteriorated state and other residents seeing that some can get away with non compliance are letting their properties slide too. Thanks TBB and Ferdman.
By the way I have several friends in your tract who complain that the
City needs to do lots of enforcement in Sierra Estates too.
The beauty of the proactive enforcement effort was that each neighborhood, block by block, and each and every resident had to play by the same rules. Staff would deal with unusual situations and work with residents to get the best results possible
as they did in my situation. Neighbors did not need to complain about each other, fear retaliation, or angry neighbors. Other neighbors were also noticing the improvements and sprucing their homes up too.
In a reactive complaint based system, only the house with a complaint lodged against it must come into compliance but the house right next-door with the same issue and no complaint, stays as is. That is until someone complains about that one perhaps when the unsuspecting new owner moves in and can ill afford to deal with the problems.
I have never smeared your name TBB. I simply state the facts. If those facts are not flattering to your image, too bad.
Using your pseudonym, which you continue to deny, sending your friends and supporters posting and calling anonymously, you all have said many very nasty and disturbing things TBB. Stop making false statements and I will stop calling you on them.
You do not have to be silent. Rest assured I will not be.
BGH
The fact that you were living in your garage does not make it LEGAL living space. The City allowed you to turn your modified garage into LEGAL living space. Please read my posts more carefully. Now you can sell the house with more square footage and it is worth more money. It is unusual that the City allowed this.
Berta, I have always felt sad that the City staff were, in my opinion, mercilessly unreasonable in dealing with your house’s code compliance problems.
I think it’s very sportsman like of you not to bear a grudge against the City generally.
@J thanks. I do not hold grudges; it is a waste of time and energy.
Besides, I like to be fair.
Berta
“I do not hold grudges” must be U’r attempt at humor.
Pure Berta BS.
I will not even hold a grudge against someone like you “Jerry”.
Berta
“I will not even hold a grudge against someone like you”
is a lie plus more BS.
@ “Jerry”, how sad it must be to live in your world. Believe whatever fits your reality…
Yeah damn businesses that use trucks… I say we take down any business who uses trucks to conduct their business.
How dare they infringe on our infinite supply of out of state corporate restaurants that come to our valley setup shop and send the money to headquarters! I feel bad for all the business these trucks steal from the many restaurants who are just trying to serve some good food at 9p – 2 am, everyone knows Santa Clarita is a night town.
I personally think it is great the Berta wants to save everyone from themselves. Our little Berta is growing up into a bleeding heart liberal *tear
@Nate, I do not fit ANY of the labels you and others like to attach to me.
True conservative dislike taxes especially taxes on business. They also dislike government regulations.
You seem to be a fan of both… RHINO perhaps?
oh yes and Berta lets not forget that good ol’ Free market rhetoric.
CooooooouuuuuRHINOuuugh!
Do the caterers that serve the film locations pay taxes here?
Good question. One time the City issued filming permits to the crew for “Dude Where’s My Car” to film on Gilbert Drive and nearby cul-de-sacs where I lived. As a result, I believe the City had reasonable notice that a catering truck would be there for the week or so during the filming. So I think the City has a fair shot at collecting some sort of tax from those vehicles.
I note, in passing, that the City issued the filming permit was issued without notice to anyone in the neighborhood (except the person whose townhouse was being rented for interior shots), and more important the permit was issued without our HOA’s prior consent, or compensation to the HOA, even though those doing the filming were trespassing on our HOA’s common area. That production’s catering truck repeatedly parked in a way blocking my driveway. The driver/cook got snotty when I asked him to move the truck so I could back my car out and go to work. He did this several days in a row.
Finally, after the third driveway blocking incident, I called the Sheriff to complain and was told there if there was a filming permit there was nothing they would do.
So it is conceivable to me that the movie related catering trucks do get special treatment because the City of Santa Clarita does want to be “filming friendly”.
Berta is also against all eCommerce unless located and paying taxes in Santa Clarita.
@Kevin D. Korenthal: What taxes are these “rouge” business not paying? As a businessman yourself, how much taxes do you pay directly to the city?
Messick:
There is a pretty good probability that they are crediting city sales tax at their fixed locations on these mobile sales, through negligence and not through any venality.
Excuse me Tim, I failed to point out that I was talking about rogue food sellers and those that peddle flowers and other items that compete with legitimate businesses in Santa Clarita. If indeed these peddlers are paying taxes, then they have nothing to worry about from me. I find it interesting that my liberals friends want to “spread the wealth around” and when it comes to legitimate businesses, they are all for taxing the socks off them. But when it comes to businesses that are not paying their fair share, they are willing to look the other way.
Kogi doesn’t pay taxes?? I’m confused.
Kogi (and the other gourmet food trucks) are probably collecting the gross sales tax for LA County but there is a likely potential that when they transmit the sale tax to the Board of Equalization their transactional systems report the tax paid at their fixed locations rather than crediting the City of Santa Clarita (or other Cities) with their share of sales tax generated from the mobile sales. I would have no problem with the City making sure (or coming to some reasonable agreement with Kogi and other mobile food vendors) that a reasonable amount of sales tax was being credited to the City, but a outright ban because this is too “hard” would be unjust.
And for crying out loud can we not be in such a hurry to squash anything that happens to enhance the character and personality of our valley??? Seriously, we have gourmet food trucks that hang outside of our local (very cool and privately owned) comic book shop, this is our current Americana at its finest. Not all of us would prefer to eat at Cheesecake Factory but we won’t stop those who want it from getting one. If you disagree with the food trucks then don’t frequent them, but please don’t fight to homogenize everything for the rest of us. Thanks. Maybe the other food retailers should take a second to learn from what these food trucks are doing and innovate a bit to keep up, in terms of the food experience offered.
Food trucks make yummy food.
I like yummy food.
Therefore, I like food trucks.
Simple, right?
Agree.
Don’t care about the taxes. The food is great and so is the crowd that goes.
For all those talking about fair share for the city, then you need to stop all purchases on the internet. The City does not seee a penny of revenue from purchases online.
No sweat! I hate shopping online. Give me “hands on” purchasing any day.
He wasn’t talking about the massage parlors only Navigator
What about FOLLOWING the food trucks on the Internet?
Hmmmmmmm?
Food trucks are the bane of Castaic, flaunting their code violations (permanent seating, etc) and drug-selling, and their patrons leave their trash to blow in the wind along Castaic Road. And as noted, they do not pay the same fees as brick and mortar businesses, though they compete with businesses that do.
And when the County tried to enforce the law (downtown), the bastards filed a lawsuit and blocked enforcement.
To hell with them.
This is one area where the City might have more clout to clean up this trash than the County does. But the City will never annex trucker road!
Amen Damageinc!
“Yeah damn businesses that use trucks… I say we take down any business who uses trucks to conduct their business.
How dare they infringe on our infinite supply of out of state corporate restaurants that come to our valley setup shop and send the money to headquarters! I feel bad for all the business these trucks steal from the many restaurants who are just trying to serve some good food at 9p – 2 am, everyone knows Santa Clarita is a night town.”
Dear Berta, I am sorry your neighborhood is overrun with food trucks. They shouldn’t be in a residential area, but the gourmet food trucks are parked in a commercial area. I view this as a perfect Supply/Demand issue, if they bring good food, people will come. Yes, of course, health codes and appropriate taxes need to be enforced, that’s just common sense. But eliminate these from a commercial area? Oh PUHLEEZE!!! Also, I have to wonder how the Sheriff’s department would respond, they don’t even come when there are speeders zipping past the school at dismissal time!
@Kelly, unfortunately the common sense part is nowhere to be found. I think that is why neighboring businesses complain and government agencies struggle with this issue.
Other communities are encountering problems with this issue so maybe someone will come up with an equitable solution. I hope so.
It’s called making them buy a permit from the City to sell their food here. This is essentially like charging them rent or taxes.
@NFIC that may or may not solve the problem since part of the issue is that they set up shop right in front of brick and mortar restaurants during their business hours. These coaches are taking up parking spots, and operating at much lower overhead (no dishwashers, wait staff, furniture, janitorial staff, sewer costs, linens, etc) making it very difficult for brick and mortar shops to compete for those same customers.
Now, if they were limited to operating only during hours the restaurants are closed and submit to all requirements including health inspections, pay all fees and taxes, permits, etc. I would say ok.
You folks kill me, can you figure out what side of an argument you’re on and stay there?
A while back I posted about all the the people in my neighborhood running their business out of their homes and parking their company vehicles, including a big rig, all over the place and y’all gave me holy hell for not supporting these poor folks who are just trying to make a buck, nevermind that they are destroying our neighborhood.
Now it seems you are taking the other side entirely – do you just like to practice your argumentative skills?
@Jane, I know you cannot be addressing me. I am on your side. As I recall you mentioned you live near Camp Plenty in Canyon Country. I live not far from there and understand your concern. I said at the time and repeat here, call Community Preservation or file a complaint online at www. santa-clarita.com There are rules regarding commercial vehicles parking on residential streets during certain hours. Here again, proactive code enforcement such as with the Extreme Neighborhood Makeover program would educate neighbors and take care of the issue without you complaining.
Just a point to consider… CA State Law provides an exemption to “take-out” food sales… meaning that if the food is to “take home” then no sales tax is collected.
From what I understand, basically an establishment can not charge sales tax if less than 80% of its sales are for on-site consumption.
So, while you can do take-out from CPK, or Islands… they have to charge sales tax because more than 80% of their sales are consumed on-site. But if you go to Coffee Bean, and say “to-go” when they ask (notice, they don’t serve it to you any differently, so why ask?), then you don’t get charged sales tax.
So, being as how food trucks don’t have any capability to allow for on-site consumption…. they’re exempt from collecting sales tax.
But I’m no tax lawyer, nor accountant… so if you’re thinking of starting your own roach-coach, I’d probably recommend you check with someone who is.
As for food production… thats a catering gig…. and regardless of the point of delivery, the tax revenues go to the point where the contract is enforceable…. Which would be the catering company’s home offices.
@TimBen Boydston, I am amazed that you continue to misstate the facts as you do.
I was not living in my garage. I purchased a small 3-bedroom home with a nice family room, which it turns out had been originally converted in 1963, had withstood two major earthquakes without any damage whatsoever, and was remodeled beautifully using top-notch materials and construction practices which mirrored the rest of the house. I had no idea whether this room was permitted or not in 1963 as no one disclosed that there was any problem with the room conversion or carport on the premises or raised any red flags when I purchased the house in 1993.
The City worked with me to legalize this previous construction, which had not been a garage for 30 years before my purchase, and nearly 40 years when the City brought action against the property. The City worked with me because I successfully proved that the previous owners had made these changes many, many years before I bought the property and during a time when the changes were legally permissible. The County transferred paperwork when the City incorporated but not all paperwork made the transition. Whether my house had the appropriate permits or not I will never know and could not prove anyway. It is a moot point since I did everything required by the City to satisfy all of the legal requirements, upgraded construction where requested to current building standards, paid fines, fees etc. and it is all permitted now.
I purchased this house with these changes already on the property and paid more money because it had the family room and other features so your contention that the house is worth more now is false and misleading. Because of the City’s requirements I actually spent $25,000 + more to have the same house I originally purchased and it was not a fixer upper or bargain deal when I bought it either. My house, like any other, is only worth what someone will pay for it and right now, I actually have more money in the house than what I could sell it for. I also pay much higher property taxes since the house was reassessed after work was completed.
The City worked out a solution without your involvement. Based on your comments, I must say I am eternally grateful you were not running for office or interested in my problem at the time.
I find it absolutely fascinating that you seem to have a real problem that the City worked with me in order to allow me to spend thousands of dollars to retain the house as I originally purchased it. Yet you had no problem advocating for Bonelli Tract residents like Emmy Bonja who only needed to spend a couple of hundred dollars worth of cement demolition to return her front yard landscaping to pre 1995 levels. You contend the City should leave them alone but her home was not in its original state when the City requested she comply with City Ordinances, which the property owners violated well after the City was incorporated. Standards have been in place in Los Angeles County since 1927 (Chapter 22.48, Ord. 1494 Ch. 2 Art. 1 § 209, 1927.) when William J. Bonelli was elected President of the Los Angeles City Council and long before the Bonelli Tract was approved or built. In addition, aerial photos indicate Ms. Bonja’s driveway was re-poured after 1995. Her alterations would never have been allowed regardless.
Just so I am clear, you suggest that the City should NOT have worked with me to find a reasonable solution to an issue that was legally allowed and may have been permitted in 1963 when the alterations were made. You do however have an issue with the City trying to enforce rules that were in place and violated after 1995.
Boy, I am really glad I did not vote for you. So much for your claims that the City should work with residents in these unusual situations. What you really meant was, if I like the person or it gets me votes work with them, if not screw them.
Got it TBB.
Oh and please read my posts more carefully.
BGH
So as I have said, you were living in your illegal converted garage.
It seems sad that you would think that the City should work with you, but not with other homeowners.
The best solution is always when the homeowner and the neighborhood are both happy. The City should always work with the citizens to try to facilitate that solution.
@TimBen, you are a hypocrit and a liar. Anyone reading this blog with half a brain can figure that out. You make it very clear you do not think the City should have worked with me after you tried and failed with your other manufactured arguments. First, you try to say you new nothing about my situation and I proved that false. Then you try to imply the City gave me special treatment, I proved that false. So now, you keep insisting that although you believe the City should work with homeowners, the City should not have worked with me. Wow!
Since you insist on making false statements, you simply keep proving what I say about you TBB. Obfuscating the truth and dramatizing things to suit your purpose in order to try to make your point is exactly why I do not support you.
I like it better when you keep talking; you dig your own hole.
BGH
I have looked everywhere for any statement that I have ever made saying that I thought the City should not have worked with you to help solve your problem, but alas I cannot find that statement…because it does not exist. It is a fabrication, like so many of your “facts”.
Name calling is the last refuge of those who have nothing to say.
@TimBen, I have plenty to say. I have said all that I need to say for now regarding this topic. You have done most of the heavy lifting for me. Thanks.
OMG who is going to get the last word?
Berta of course!!