Evanston City Council members approved a change in the ordinance that overturns the original language that stated a mobile food vendor “must be owned and operated by the owner or agent of a licensed food establishment in the city of Evanston.” Now food truck operators that don’t own a brick-and-mortar shop within city limits can apply for eligibility to operate in the city.

Aldermen suspended their rules of introducing an item and then waiting two weeks before acting on an issue, hoping to clear the way for outside food trucks to obtain licensing and begin operating here as soon as this summer.

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Jason Huebert, an attorney for Beavers Coffee and Donuts, a popular food truck operation in Chicago, praised the move. The company filed suit against the city in 2012 over the original ordinance.

“It’s going to be a great benefit, not only for start-up entrepreneurial businesses like Beavers Coffee and Donuts, but also for the people of Evanston as they have more food choices,” he said, speaking during the citizen comment portion of the meeting.

Officials announced last month they were considering recommending changes to the city’s food truck ordinance, acknowledging the lawsuit as a factor in the change.

In the suit, two young Rogers Park entrepreneurs, James Nuccio and Gabriel Wiesen, maintained the city’s ordinance was “arbitrary and restrictive” and “serves to protect one group of established business owners from creative competition.”

The two hoped to tap the Northwestern University market, believing their doughnuts and coffee would be popular with students.

City officials also convened a meeting April 11 with more than 20 individuals representing various business district groups, restaurants and food trucks, getting their backing of the change.

“It is clear from the suggestions raised by the restaurant industry during the April 11th public meeting that removal of this brick-and-mortar requirement to dispose of costly litigation against the City is not an issue,” said Henry J. Ford, assistant city attorney, in a memo to aldermen.

Under the ordinance, operators of food trucks would have to apply to operate in the city. It includes a provision for the city to inspect vehicles and determine their suitability for use.

Food trucks could not park or operate within 100 feet of the address point of a licensed restaurant in the city. The ordinance also prohibits food trucks from operating on streets around schools when the schools are in session, and keep at least 500 feet off the address point of the properties.

The food trucks would also have to stay at least 100 feet away from public parks.