The public will have the chance to give input on rules for city permits allowing food trucks to operate in the Hawaii Capital Special District at a meeting on April 24.

The public meeting, being held by the city departments of Transportation Services and Enterprise Services, is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Hearings Room on South King Street next to Honolulu Hale.

The departments are coming up with rules to allow food truck vendors to bid for an as-yet-unspecified number of food truck permits allowing them to park in designated stalls in the district.

Other food trucks would not be allowed in the district during the two-year pilot program which was triggered by the approval of City Council Bill 1. 

A second public hearing and comment period will occur after draft rules are produced.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell allowed the bill to become law without his signature, noting that food truck did not provide input about the idea until after it was passed. Caldwell said the subsequent comments were largely negative.

Council Chairman Ernie Martin said he introduced the bill to make the process more equitable and provide the city with a small stream of income. Food truck vendors themselves suggested the permitting system, and that such a system not allow trucks without permits in the same vicinity.