By Pepper Fisher

SEQUIM – It’s official. On Monday night the Sequim City Council unanimously voted to allow food trucks to operate throughout the downtown business district, something that has not been allowed in over a decade.

The council adopted the Planning Commission’s recommendation to amend the ordinances to allow food truck vendors who obtain a permit to park their vehicles in any privately owned, paved parking lot, so long as they drive them away at the end of each business day.

Not everyone in Sequim was in favor of the idea. Bret Wirta, owner of the Black Bear Diner, wrote a letter to the council that reads, in part: “…allowing them in our city is unfair to the brick-and-mortar restaurants. I pay property taxes. I pay $555 for my annual county permit based on the number of seats. Will the cost of the Food Truck Permit be based on their potential capacity too?”

The effort to let food trucks back into the downtown area was spearheaded by Caleb Messinger, owner of the Southern Nibble food truck, who told us he already has his eye on a spot downtown.

“Hopefully, we’ll be right on the corner of 3rd and Washington, across from White Cup coffee. So, kind of where the Artisan Market sets up and stuff on weekends.”

Assistant City Manager Charisse Deschenes told us the new rules will take effect 5 days after the City posts a notice in the newspaper, which should happen this week.