City officials told about half a dozen Oahu food truck and lunchwagon vendors Tuesday that they will likely need to bid a minimum of $400 a month or more to be able to secure a permit for one of 10 on-street “super-stalls” in the Honolulu Capital Special District during peak, lunch periods on weekdays.

The rules come on the heels of passage of Ordinance 14-5 by the Honolulu City Council earlier this year in an effort to better regulate the food truck industry in the capital district.

Officials with the Department of Transportation Services and Department of Enterprise Services explained the rules on Tuesday at a sparsely attended meeting at Neal Blaisdell Center.

Tracy Kubota, deputy enterprise services director, said the city hopes to have the stalls available for bid in the next two to three weeks. While vendors will be able to place bids for all 10 stalls, they will limited to operating two at a time in order to avoid a monopoly, she said.

Transportation Services Director Michael Formby said only trucks with permits will be allowed in the capital district during the permitted hours, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays. Others in the zone may be towed, he said.

DTS officials said that in coming up with the 10 locations, they were hindered by a prohibition against allowing vending on streets within the National Highway System — specifically all of King and Beretania streets, and Punchbowl Street mauka of King.

To see a map and description of the stall locations, go to our story from Tuesday: http://t.co/hI3AZVwzvk.

Formby said his office is open to suggestions from vendors for other locations within the district.

Several vendors who attended were dubious about the plan. Some asked if they would be allowed in the capital district outside of the 10:30-1:30 period. Formby said he didn’t see any restriction for the off times, but said he’d check with city attorneys.

Jon Wong, who operates Blue Truck Teppanyaki along Mililani Street five days a week, said he’s undecided what he will do. “I still have to digest it,” he said.

Wong’s bothered by the suggested $400 minimum bid and said that if five trucks commit to parking along Mililani five days a week, there won’t be enough customers to go around for them to stay in business. 

“I’m kind of hoping there’s no minimum” Wong said. There are three trucks at most there regularly while others come and go, he said. 

“Three or less may have a chance to survive,” he said. Looking at a map showing five trucks, he said, “I’m nervous.”

Vicky Siu, manager of Nicky’s Lunchwagon, another Mililani Street regular, said she and her father Darrell Siu, will need to look hard at their financial situation before deciding on placing a bid — or moving somewhere else like Kakaako.

Kubota said the $400 minimum is just a proposal and not yet set in stone. The figure is based on what Enterprise Services has used as a minimum bid for food truck vending contracts in other locations such as Haleiwa and Sandy Beach. The bids would be for the entire two-year length of the pilot project described in the ordinance, although Kubota said there are provisions under which a contractor can opt out of a contract.