From left, Diana Scott, Dana Scott, Alexander Scott and Taylor Scott at the Studio D Catering & Venue food truck last summer. City of Jamestown officials are hosting three virtual public food truck program feedback sessions, with the first at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

The discussion on the city of Jamestown’s pilot food truck program will continue in 2021.

The city of Jamestown Development Department will host three virtual food truck public feedback sessions to continue the discussion that started last year, which led to the Jamestown City Council approving a pilot food truck program. The first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, which will be followed by a second meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, and a third meeting at 3 p.m. Monday, March 22. For more information or to sign up, contact Ellen Shadle, city’s principal planner, at shadle@jamestownny.gov or call 483-7541.

Crystal Surdyk, city development director, said city officials want to keep the conversation going on the food truck program, which before implementation received both positive and negative feedback from downtown brick and mortar restaurant owners.

“I think we are hoping to learn what concerns there are from businesses that are in the downtown area, if there are concerns, and we’ve heard there are,” she said. “We want to give them an opportunity to talk about what (the concerns) might be and talk about those concerns as a collective group. This is a pilot program so we want to take advantage of the fact it can be changed and be flexible. The end goal is to have a policy that works for everyone, and that brings food trucks and people downtown.”

Surdyk said those who are thinking about operating a food truck in the city, downtown restaurant owners and the general public are all invited to attended the virtual meetings.

“The more points of view we have the better,” she said. “I think we can come up with some solutions that will work for everyone as long as everyone is willing to listen and be constructive.”

Following the council’s approval of the food truck program, which didn’t take place until July 27, only one permit was issued to Diana Scott of Studio D Catering & Venue. Scott operated her food truck at the corner of East Second and Pine streets for about one month before it closed for the season.

“(Diana Scott) was the only one who actually ended up doing anything. It was kind of late in the season when we got things going,” Surdyk said. “(City officials) are hoping to get the jump on it this year. There are a number of food trucks in the area that are looking to get a permit this year.”

In October, the city hosted a food truck day in the parking lot of the former Jimmy’s Family Restaurant and Friendly’s in Brooklyn Square. Surdyk said three trucks participated in the food truck day, which she estimates attracted 200 people.

“Talking to the food truck owners that participated it was a good business day for them and they would participate in something like that again,” she said.

During the food truck discussions last year, city officials had proposed having a food truck rodeo at an isolated location in the city Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening. The proposed locations of the food truck rodeo haven’t been finalized, but examples given included the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk or Baker Park, which is located between West Fifth and Fourth streets between Clinton and Jefferson streets.

Surdyk said the food truck rodeo idea is still on the table and hopefully the discussion will continue during the virtual meetings.

“During these conversations, we will be looking for suggestions on locations and time, and that way we can work on a schedule for the whole season, so everyone will know when the events or food truck rodeos will be happening and will plan for it,” she said.

Surdyk doesn’t believe the COVID-19 pandemic will stop the possibility of food truck rodeos happening this summer with vaccines becoming more available and the number of county residents infected decreasing.

“I definitely think (the food truck rodeos) will still happen with consumer confidence coming back and people starting to trust attending social gatherings again,” she said. “I think going to a food truck, because it’s outdoors, is attractive to people. This provides a nice alternative (to indoor restaurants), and it allows people to be outdoors and feel confident. Obviously people will still need to abide by CDC guidelines and food truck operators will have to abide by those guidelines as well. Food truck rodeos or events I think they will be successful and people will want to attend these types of things because it’s almost pandemic friendly.”

The link for the first meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83578122163?pwd=YTVseHdTQ2xqUG9wZmlCZ3BCZ1NvQT09; the second meeting link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81581994172?pwd=cFVsQzFxMUVJNDNDNEE1T2ZFck1Idz09; and the third meeting link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87477095580?pwd=WGxMYjhseEFsU3BMdG02cGVuK0tIdz09.