CHICAGO (CBS) — A City Council committee has endorsed an ordinance to allow food carts to operate in Chicago for the first time.

Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th), the measure’s chief sponsor, said he’s a regular customer of food carts in his neighborhood, even though they’ve been banned by the city for decades.

“When I leave church, my first stop is to stop at the eloteros in front of the church to buy my elotes, which are corn on the cob, and also to buy my tamale,” he said.

The proposed rules would require food cart vendors to prepare their food in licensed kitchens subject to city health inspections.

Carts would be subject to city inspection, would have to be enclosed with a top and sides, and would need sufficient refrigeration equipment to store food and drink that must be kept cold at a temperature of 40 degrees or less. Equipment for hot food also would be required, and must be capable of heating food and drink to at least 140 degrees. Carts could carry no more than 40 pounds of propane for that purpose.