Information on Proposed Changes to City Code for Mobile Food Vendor |

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January 26th, 2010 by MikeK

GD Star Ratinga WordPress rating systemUpdate as of 07.29.2010

On Thursday, 7/22 The Public Health Sub-Committee approved a number of new recommendations by the City staff that they intend to take to the full City Council for approval.

You can see the recommendations here .

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05.04.2010 UPDATE – WE NEED ALL VENDORS AT CITY HALL ON 05.05@3PM

Austin City Hall

Wednesday, 5/5

3:00 pm

City Council Chambers, Rm 1001

Health sub-committee meeting

Vendors this is getting extremely problematic.

I am in process of putting all the information together and will update throughout the day.

The details are that tomorrow the various city departments will be making their recommendations to the City Council Subcommittee that will in turn present to the City Council.

The current proposal includes recommendations that are extremely damaging and will either cost you $$ to implement or could even shut you down.

The actual proposal is in a pdf you can download .

A few choice items we have seen so far include:

We need your presence at City Hall tomorrow.

This is our last chance to affect the recommendations that are made to the City Council.

I will post the exact meeting details as soon as I get them (exact room and meeting name).

If you can attend and or would like to be kept informed on this issue, please .

Check out the Austin American Statesman update .

Update from 3/10/2010 (Thanx to the folks at ):

Below is a table that shows the 10 recommendations put forward by Snappy Snacks, the vote from Mobile Vendor Input and the recommendations the Health department will make to Public Health and Human Services subcommittee of the City Council on April 20th 2010 at 3PM City Hall Boards and Commissions room:

Proposal Presented to the City Council

Mobile Vendor Input

Staff Recommendation

Proof of Liability Insurance

Yes (Product)

Yes, proof of product liability

Notarized Documentation of Daily Commissary Use

Undecided (split)

No, State rules do not address frequency of central prep use

Proof of Texas Sales and Tax Use permit

Yes

Yes, would be a part of the application packet process

Itinerary for Truck Routes

Undecided (split)

Yes, increases enforcement capabilities for foodborne illness investigations. Includes MV’s at one location

Written agreement with Property Owner to Vend on Private Property

Undecided (split)

No, no city/state regulations pertaining to the agreement

Written permission to use Restrooms at Work Site

No

Yes, health implications. Specific requirements to be determined by health department

Certification of Commissaries

Yes

Yes, notarized for both restricted and unrestricted MVs

Commercially Manufactured Unit or Unit Plans Required

Undecided (split)

Yes, plan may be required for application process

Retention Tank / Grease Trap

No

Regulated by COA Industrial Waste

Low Propane gas units

Already in code included with AFD Inspection

Yes, Inspection will be required by AFD during permit application process

Because Snappy Snacks felt there were too many dangerous taco trucks with illegal propane setups, we will now how Austin Fire Department involved in the inspection and approval of our trucks and trailers. The following is the Draft Proposal of the new AFD requirements

Austin Fire Department

Mobile Food Vending Checklist

Location of Mobile Units

Electricity Issues

Design Construction/Plan Review

Propane Cylinder Issue

Fire Extinguishers

AFD Mobile Vending Permit (Annual Permit)

Proposed Checklist for NEW Application Process

WHAT TO BRING WHEN YOUR NEW MOBILE FOOD UNIT IS INSPECTED

Restricted and Unrestricted Mobile Food Units

Current proof of product liability insurance

Current proof of identification

An original, notarized letter from an approved central preparation facility dated withing the last 30 days authorizing use.

Submit plans for approval

A current route list or itinerary to be provided quarterly (If mobile vendor is at a single location, then a wastewater hauler contract must be provided)

$125 application fee (proposed new fee)

Valid Sales Tax Permit (available at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxpermit)

Signed and approved inspection report from Austin Fire Department

Proposed Checklist for Application Process

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU, OR INCLUDE WHEN RENEWING YOUR HEALTH PERMIT

Restricted Mobile Food Units

Current proof of product liability insurance

Current proof of identification

An original, notarized letter from an approved central preparation facility dated withing the last 30 days authorizing use.

Submit plans for approval (if plans have never been submitted)

A current route list or itinerary to be provided quarterly (If contracted with an approved wastewater hauler, trip tickets must be provided)

$125 application fee (proposed new fee)

Valid Sales Tax Permit (available at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxpermit)

Trip log from an approved central preparation facility may be requried verifying that the unit has been properly serviced for the previous year.

Signed and approved inspection report from Austin Fire Department

Effective Date of Changes

October 1, 2010

Older information

During a public hearing before City Council on May 21, 2009, relating to amending the map indicating areas with additional regulations applying to mobile food establishments in accordance with Sec. 25-2-812 of the City Code, Paul Saldana and Tom Ramsey spoke requesting that the council “consider a long overdue assessment of the city’s regulatory standards and permitting process” (Closed Caption Transcript, May 21, 2009, Item #59).

Council Member Martinez requested that the item be posted on the next meeting of the Public Health and Human Services Subcommittee.

At the June 16, 2009, Public Health and Human Services Subcommittee meeting, representatives of Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services (HHSD), Environmental and Consumer Health Unit (ECHU), and the Code Enforcement Department (CED), gave a brief overview of current regulations and enforcement effort of the two types of rules regulating mobile food vendor (MFV) units—those relating to food safety (ECHU) and those relating to set-back requirements, limitation of hours, and zoning issues. (CED). Paul Saldana presented on behalf of Tom Ramsey, owner of Snappy Snacks Mobile Catering, eight proposed regulations that the City of Austin should implement.

The task force is now in place and has been in preliminary meetings with the Mobile Vending Community to discuss these proposed changes.

The purpose of these meetings is to “discuss and outline” what changes would have to be made in the mobile vending ordinance in order to meet the request for the rule changes presented by Mr. Tom Ramsey to the Austin City Council.

These meetings will inform and gather information from Mobile Vendor Owners about the 10 items.

We are now at a point where we are beginning to field questions from the vendors concerning issues that require input from other Departments.

They include law issues, R.O.W, plan review, liquid haulers and discharges.

The Austin/Travis County Health Department will hold an informational meeting on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at City Hall (301 W. 2nd St.) to discuss the possible changes.

We will be meeting in Room 1029 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The items put forth by Snappy Snacks included;

This information was gathered with the cooperation of David Lopez, his information is below.

David B. Lopez, Manager

Environmental and Consumer Health Unit

Austin Travis County Health Department

512-972-5687 wk

512-972-5630 fax

[email protected]

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Aly Chiman

Aly Chiman is a Blogger & Reporter at AlyChiTech.com which covers a wide variety of topics from local news from digital world fashion and beauty . AlyChiTech covers the top notch content from the around the world covering a wide variety of topics. Aly is currently studying BS Mass Communication at University.