City Extends Food Truck Tuesdays to Late November

Smyrna City Council unanimously approved Monday to extend Food Truck Tuesdays to Nov. 20 and officially adjust to the new 5-8:30 p.m. seasonal hours.

Since it first began in July, Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays has been wildly successful both in Smyrna and beyond, attracting more than 1,000 people in attendance weekly at Taylor-Brawner Park. The event was initially set to end this month.

"We had no idea how successful this was going to be," said Mayor Max Bacon at Monday night's meeting. "We are very proud how it turned out."

"It's done a lot for the community—bringing people together, and raising awareness of the great parks and green space we have in Smyrna," said Ward 3 Council Representative Teri Anulewicz.

Anulewicz said the event will restart as soon as the weather and market are ready in early 2013.

Ward 6 Council Representative Wade Lnenicka suggested that city staff take the time after November to conduct more research, adopt an ordinance, and perhaps collect a permit fee from vendors going into 2013. Lnenicka said this will help assure that the event is self-sustainable and doesn't hurt the city's budget in the long run.

"Food Truck Tuesdays is an amenity—we can't make money off everything people get to enjoy in the city," said Ward 1 Representative and Mayor Pro Tem Melleny Pritchett. "I'm not willing to vote for something if we're going to govern it to death."

City officials said that signing an annual contract with the food vendors is a possibility they are looking into, which will allow for minimum governing while making sure the event continues to improve and moves toward being self-sustainable.

Are you glad that Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays is extended? What improvements would you like to see at the weekly event? Tell us in the comments!

In other news from the meeting:

• Council voted unanimously to support the preservation of the historic Dobbins Air Reserve Base Chapel, a landmark at the entrance to Dobbins Air Reserve Base for the past 62 years that once faced demolition.
• Approval of changing the name of Imagine International Academy of Smyrna to International Academy of Smyrna, separating the public charter school from the Imagine system.
• Approval of an Alcohol Privilege License for retail package sales of beer at Smyrna Beer Market, a new growler store that will set up shop in Market Village in the old gelato shop.

The City Council also unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:

• Approval of Bridal Show Agreement between the City of Smyrna and Georgette Lake.
• Approval of FY2012 Final Budget Amendment.
• Approval for use of Council Chambers for informational meeting on Oct. 4, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., regarding the charter school amendment.
• Approval of Utility Relocation Agreement between the City of Smyrna and Georgia Power for relocation of transmission structure and placing distribution lines along city-owned parcels on Concord Road.
• Approval of Octoberfest date change to Oct. 27-28 during Fall Festival weekend.