E

After clarifying whom it would impact, erasing confusion over the issue, the Winchester City Council approved a mobile-vendor ordinance on July 11 that addresses fees and where business can be conducted.

Winchester’s mobile food vendors, food trucks, trailers and tents are required to purchase a $300 business license annually to be able to sell their products in the city.

However, confusion over the ordinance surfaced about whether a $200-per-event fee would be assessed to vendors.

City Administrator Beth Rhoton explained that the $200 fee in the ordinance is targeted toward special event sponsors and vendors from outside the city who don’t pay the annual business license.

“The $200-per-event fee is for the big organizations, not Winchester food trucks,” she explained, adding that it would be the event sponsors who are responsible for paying the fee.

Some vendors in the audience said they had assumed the $200-per-event fee would be charged to them. However, once they understood the process won’t work that way, they were OK with the City Council’s decision to approve the ordinance.

Darlene Lane, owner of the JitterBean Java food truck, explained her interpretation.

“I was concerned that we would be required to pay $200 for each event, but that’s not how it will work,” she said, adding that she was satisfied with the City Council’s decision.

The ordinance also lists three parking lots — at SunTrust Bank, Bunny’s Gym and Sisk Cleaners — where the food vendors can locate their vehicles and sell food products.