This past Tuesday, September 18, was a big day for Houston food trucks. After more than 18 months of planning, the newly formed Mobile Food Unit of Houston (MFU), a “collection of micro-entrepreneurs” who embrace food trucks, headed to City Hall to express their support of proposed changes in food-truck regulations. Namely, to allow for easier access for food trucks downtown, to eliminate the current restriction of having a 60-foot distance between units, to lift the ban on seating in the immediate area of mobile food units and a few additional adjustments to current standards.

The grand Art Deco chamber was flooded with people like Joshua Martinez of The Modular food truck, Joe Phillips of Oh My Pocket Pies food truck, Bobby Heugel of Anvil, The Hay Merchant and others, Chris Shepherd of Underbelly, Jonathan Jones of Hotel Zaza, and Morgan Weber of Revival Market and the just-announced Coltivare – many of them dressed in uncharacteristic business professional attire for the occasion – and many more. That “many more” included food-truck owners, passionate food-truck lovers and plenty of brick and mortar restaurant representatives who don’t feel threatened by lifting certain regulations on Houston’s mobile food vendors.

On the opposition, two speakers and a handful of supporters were in attendance to argue for the status quo. They wanted City Hall to vote against the proposed regulations with arguments that deregulation of food trucks downtown would cause unfair competition, as would allowing food trucks to set up tables (a maximum of three is being requested) and chairs (six requested).

In support of their agenda, Michael Shine of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association told KHOU- Channel 11 that a negative outcome of food-truck deregulation could be up to 300 percent growth in the industry, after studying cities with thriving food truck cultures like Austin, Portland and Los Angeles. He argued that city regulators could have a tough time keeping up with the possible growth, never addressing the positive impact added jobs on both the food truck and city’s side could have on the local economy.

The GHRA also stated their concern over the safety of propane tanks commonly used by food trucks and a less-than-60-foot distance between trucks to argue their opposition with the proposed changes. During his testimony in front of council members, Shine tried to make it clear that his organization wasn’t opposed to food trucks and that they “respect the mobile food culture, if you will,” just any “deregulation” of current ordinances.

Council members ranged from the staunchly resolute in their refusals to listen to any arguments in favor of change (Andrew Burks, Jr. was especially straightforward in his opposition) while others like Ed Gonzales seemed to keep an open mind when hearing both sides of the argument. Many others remained somewhere in between.

At one point, the room broke out into applause as the Eatsie Boys and 8th Wonder Brewing’s Ryan Soroka ended his impassioned speech with, “And in the wise words of Bun B, ‘Let’s keep Houston trill.’”

While the mood remained energized, the questions and remarks of council members showed just how far removed from the budding food-truck scene many remain. At one point, a councilman even implied that illegal “products” could easily be sold from food trucks as well as hamburgers and hot dogs.

While this was the first of a series of public hearings on food-truck regulatory issues – the second will be next Tuesday, September 25 – the momentum within MFU remains strong. A rally will be held this Sunday, September 23, 4 to 10 pm, at The Refinery (702 W. Dallas). The plan is to show support of food trucks and to inform the general public about the issues at hand.

More than a dozen food trucks will be set up, feeding Houstonians, debunking longstanding myths and showing why they deserve to have a little more wiggle room when it comes to serving our city. Oh, and they won’t be selling anything illegal, unless it’s something that tastes so good it makes you want to slap your mama – in which case, it only should be.