- February 5, 2025
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Liz Rivera Otts, president of Food Truck Crazy, is planning to bring 40 food trucks to an event called Food Truck Wars, from noon to 7 p.m. May 26, at Riverwalk Park. There will be vendors from all over the state, live music, a kids area, and it will be a way to showcase the new park. With all that taken into account, she requested that the Port Orange City Council waive the $1,988.80 that the city is charging to cover event staffing, police support and other fees.
But city staff recently created a matrix to judge whether events should have fees waived, and this event did not match any criteria. Staff recommended that the City Council not waive any of the fee.
Mayor Don Burnette said, “I want you to be very successful, but we have to follow the matrix on this one.”
"We worked some long hours to put together this matrix. I think it would be irresponsible and hypocritical of us." — Chase Tramont, City Council member
City Councilman Scott Stiltner pledged to promote the event on social media but also has been reminded by another restaurant owner that when food trucks come to town, local businesses lose money.
City Councilman Drew Bastian said he loves food trucks and joked that he may even go for lunch, return home for a nap, then go back for dinner.
City Councilman Chase Tramont summed it up this way: “I’ve got it on my calendar. … But I don’t think I can support a fee waiver. We worked some long hours to put together this matrix. I think it would be irresponsible and hypocritical of us if we just neglected the hard work our staff has put in. but I don’t want that to be an indication that we don’t support you. I will certainly help spread the word.”
Otts pointed out that the Port Orange Community Trust is also benefitting from the event.
