Medford is considering new regulations that would welcome food trucks to the city, joining the vast majority of surrounding municipalities that have already made room for the popular mobile eateries.

Mayor Stephanie M. Burke is proposing a “Mobile Food Truck Ordinance” that would allow the city to issue one-year renewable food truck licenses. Currently, the city grants special permits for vendors at certain events, but otherwise does not allow food trucks.

“An ordinance of this nature is overdue as various public gatherings, community and charitable events become more commonplace and varied in our city,” Burke said in a July 14 letter to the Medford City Council that included the proposed ordinance.

The city’s Board of Health would grant licenses for a period of one year, renewable annually; or for shorter periods, such as one-day and special event licenses.

According to the ordinance, food trucks would not be permitted within 200 feet of existing restaurants or businesses, unless an owner provides written permission.

The council voted July 19 to send the ordinance to the Licensing Subcommittee for review before the body votes on the proposal. The subcommittee includes Councilors Rick Caraviello, Adam Knight and John Falco.

New ordinance, old debate

The council discussed the idea of creating a new license for mobile food vendors in early 2012 as the food-truck phenomenon took root throughout Greater Boston.

But the group decided against it, with members arguing food trucks would take away business from the city’s brick-and-mortar restaurants.

The same fear still exists, at least for some restaurant owners. As part of a discussion about the proposed ordinance on Facebook, Carroll’s Restaurant owner Maury Carroll said allowing food trucks would hurt brick-and-mortar restaurants.

“Food trucks, like every other business, have a place … [for] special events, not as a regular gig,” Carroll said. “There definitely is not a place in at least Medford Square or any other square in this city on a daily basis for the trucks to not effect the places that are open.”

But a majority of residents weighing in on Facebook were in favor of the proposed ordinance, and argued food trucks would give the city a boost.

“Food trucks add diversity and whimsy,” said Medford resident Dina Noel. “They are competition like any other restaurant. They are very popular [and] will bring people to the city. The mall is gone; there are not many attractions bringing people to Medford anymore.”

Medford resident Amy Mendosa said food trucks, for the most, part attract a different customer base than brick-and-mortar restaurants.

“I don’t have money for Carroll’s, so going there is mostly not an option,” Mendosa said. “If I patronize a food truck, then I am supporting a local business that meets my needs for product and price point. We’re not talking about an army of Walmart food trucks that would drive out family-owned businesses. We’re talking about giving other family-owned businesses a shot at making it.”

Mendosa also disputed the notion that Medford has no room for mobile vendors.

“We have plenty of space for food trucks,” she said. “Someone getting a $5 lunch from a food truck is not competition for a $15 lunch at a sit-down restaurant and vice versa. Keeping anything new or interesting or exciting out of the Square is not the way to generate more overall foot traffic or draw new non-restaurant business, which in turn might draw more traffic.”

Medford’s food truck ties

Medford has two food trucks that run brick-and-mortar restaurants in the city — Tenoch Mexican (24 Riverside Ave.) and Chicken and Rice Guys (64 Salem St.).

The city also has ties to at least three other food trucks: Roving Lunch Box, started last year by Medford resident Melissa Lynch; Frozen Hoagies, started in 2011 by Medford resident Mary McPartland, who last year opened a brick-and-mortar store in Somerville; and Wakefield-based Fred’s Franks, run by Medford native Carl Galasso.

Galasso tried to bring his popular hot dog truck to Medford several years ago, but was shut down by city officials.

So he packed up and returned to his spot in Wakefield, where he remains today.

“I’m just an average citizen trying to live the American dream,” Galasso told the Transcript at the time.

If the ordinance is approved, Galasso will get another chance to bring his business back home.