City Council discusses mobile food vendors, approves splash pad

At its recent regularly scheduled meeting the Fallon City Council introduced an ordinance to regulate mobile food vendors. A construction contract from A&K Earthmovers and a professional services contract from Lumos and Associates, Inc. were also approved.

 The council discussed implementing mobile food vendor regulations for hours of operation, proximity to brick-and-mortar restaurants, special events and noise levels from and around a mobile food vendor. Bill no. 792 would amend municipal code title five “Business Licenses and Regulations” to add chapter 5.60 “Mobile Food Vendors.”

A draft of the bill can be found on the City of Fallon website in the “City Council Upcoming Meetings” section under March 21, 2023.

A public hearing is set for Tuesday March 21 at 9 a.m. in the council chambers. The community may voice any concerns, ask questions and present relevant information and materials to the council before the consideration and possible adoption of the proposed ordinance at this same meeting.

A construction contract from A&K Earthmovers was approved for the demolition of a building and the expansion of an approximately one-acre area along West Park Street north of the municipal outdoor swimming pool. The final project consists of a self-contained splash pad experience for water-play activities and three events pavilions.

Public Works Director Brian Byrd said Splash Pads USA, Inc., “a company with a great reputation in the field of playgrounds and splash pads,” will oversee the splash pad installation. Lumos and Associates, Inc. will provide consulting, design, advisory, surveying and material testing services.

            Mayor Ken Tedford mentioned that it would be nice for the splash pad to open on Memorial Day, the traditional opening day for the pool. Byrd confirmed the contracted 90 days for the entire project would take the completion date past Memorial Day, but that the pool will still open as scheduled.

            During council and staff reports, Tedford stated that he is “very comfortable” with the preparations the city has put into place to manage the imminent flood risks stemming from the large snowpack currently in the Sierra mountains. The city has made a declaration of emergency, stood up a flood operations center and made sandbags available to the community, preparations that mirror what was done to mitigate flooding in 2017. (Please see the more detailed water and flood reports available elsewhere in the Lahontan Valley News.)