Susanville Officials to Decide on Mobile Vendor License

September 7, 2011

Susanville council members will discuss the city’s regulations pertaining to mobile vendors licenses tonight.

City planner Jared Hancock quoted Chapter 17 of the city’s municipal code that does not allow for the establishment of mobile vending businesses, when denying a Susanville, CA business license to Rat’s Radical Ice Cream last week. He did agree, however, to hear the opinions of council members and the Planning Commission to see if anything can be done to accommodate mobile vendors in the city.

Lassen County Times reports that Ryan Binford and Rachael Christian, the ice cream truck’s owners, have addressed a letter expressing their disagreement with the rulings. “In the letter Binford and Christian said they didn’t understand why their business license was denied, while a business like Schwan’s food delivery service has continually had its business license renewed since 1984.”

Hancock claims that the ice cream truck will bring unhealthy competition to existing stores in the area. “If you can find a way to remove the negative aspects of what a (mobile vendor) can bring without compromising other businesses, then there’s room for discussion.”

The owners of Rat’s Radical Ice Cream have already gone through the necessary steps of obtaining both Lassen County business licenses and permits and the State of California business licenses and permits. The ice cream truck is currently operating in the unincorporated parts of Lassen County and they are hoping to soon begin selling their frozen treats in Susanville.

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