WAUPUN — The Waupun City Council passed a number of changes to the Food Truck Ordinance at the Common Council meeting of Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
These changes were recommended based on the discussion of the previous meeting, where the Council considered feedback from food truck operators and local restaurants on how to best serve the community and provide a profitable space for food vendors.
Mayor Rohn Bishop opened the issue to the floor saying he received another email with feedback about the issue that morning, which he forwarded to the Council.
City Administrator Kathy Schlieve outlined the recommended changes, which included removing the 100ft parking restriction from an open food establishment, granting fee waiving per City Administrator’s discretion during the permit process, eliminating signage restrictions, and adding a day permit provision.
Schlieve noted that the draft did not address reserving parking spaces for food trucks, as parking spots are not numbered downtown and it would be difficult for the City to control.
Upon outlining the recommended changes, Schlieve requested more feedback from the Council before continuing with the drafting process.
Alderman Pete Kaczmarski asked if the City had done any word of mouth communication about the proposed changes with vendors and local restaurants.
Schlieve said she hadn’t gotten that far, but wanted feedback from the Council before making any public statements.
Alderman Kaczmarski asked if there was a time issue if the City Council waited another month on passing the updated ordinances, if they wanted more feedback.
Mayor Bishop pointed out that when Our Bar had brought the issue to the City Council, they had not realized they were the only local restaurant that regularly hosts food trucks without a private parking lot. Our Bar also thanked the Council for looking at the item.
Alderman Kaczmarski said that they had agreed to distribute information about the changes at the previous meeting, pointing out that they had promised to do so.
Mayor Bishop pointed out that an article about the meeting’s discussion was published in the Waupun Pioneer.
Alderman Dan Siebers asked Alderman Kaczmarski if he liked what was presented, which Kaczmarski said yes. Siebers then said if the Council agrees, the City could publish the draft to the public for another month for more feedback.
Mayor Bishop pointed out that the proposed fee schedule was more in line with other communities.
“I thought everything we talked about was a lot closer to the mark than it was a month ago,” Siebers said. “I thought it was a really good working session.”
Alderman Kaczmarski asked City Attorney VandeZande if he had any comments or suggestions.
VandeZande said he did not think they could solve every issue with a single draft, and that they may need to revisit in another six to nine months. He also said he thought it was an excellent way to address the input they’ve received, and that they can take more feedback as it comes in.
VandeZande had mentioned to Schlieve that the draft may want to include more affirmative statements rather than just eliminating prohibitions.
Kaczmarski asked if it should be done before distribution.
VandeZande recommended it be published as soon as possible for more feedback and revisit. He said it’s similar to the tobacco ordinance discussed earlier at the meeting that may need regular adjustments due to changing circumstances.
Alderman Kaczmarski recommended passing the current draft tonight, and for the City to review in six months.
VandeZande said it may be a good idea to make it clear to residents that the Council is passing it because it’s closer to what the City wants, but may still get revised again in the future.
Alderman Westphal asked if they could waive the first reading, which VandeZande confirmed. Mayor Bishop said he’d like to pass it as soon as possible since it is the middle of food truck season and he doesn’t want food trucks to lose out on another month.
Schlieve agreed that the draft could be passed that night so the annual fee could be removed immediately, and it is likely to be brought up at a meeting in the near future for adjustments.
Alderman Jason Westphal said he had a concern about one of the provisions being removed about food trucks setting up tables and chairs on the sidewalk, which may impede foot traffic if they take up an entire sidewalk.
Westphal also suggested they may want to require a provision for consent from event/business operators if they’ll be located at a city park or sports field.
Schlieve said she would take that into account.
Alderman Siebers suggested removing it and seeing if it becomes an issue.
Alderman Westphal gave an example about whether it might impact Little League fundraisers at baseball tournaments, but Mayor Bishop said they would need a permit anyway since it’s a City-owned parking lot.
Alderman Kaczmarski asked Westphal if they added the provision for event operator approval, which Westphal said yes, but that he did not expect the City to track every event going on in town.
City Administrator Schlieve added the recommended provision to the draft.
Mayor Bishop asked if they wanted to pass as presented, Westphal made the motion to add provision on “with consent of event organizers in city parks”, seconded by Siebers.
The Council waived the first reading, and passed the ordinance unanimously.
VandeZande noted that public officials, in particular Mayor Bishop and City Administrator Schlieve, should be able to explain the changes they will be making if people ask and consider feedback they receive.
