Any reference to “regulatory authority” in the rules shall mean the city by and through its authorized representative to enforce the provisions of this article. For purposes of this article, the “authorized representative” shall be the development services director, or his authorized designee.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a food establishment within the limits of the city without having been issued a valid health permit. Only a person who complies with the requirements in this article shall be entitled to receive or retain a permit, and notwithstanding the fact that all inspections necessary for obtaining a food service establishment permit have been completed, such permit shall not be issued until after the building in which the establishment is to be located has been issued a certificate of occupancy by the city. Permits are not transferable from one person, place or entity to another person, place or entity. A valid permit shall be posted in or on a conspicuous place of every food establishment regulated by this article. The permit required by this article shall be issued annually, commencing on January 1st and remaining in effect until December 31st. Any permit issued during the course of the year shall expire on December 31st, irrespective of date of issuance. There shall be no pro-ration of fees assessed after the first month of each period.
(b) 
Mobile food establishments and hot trucks shall be considered food establishments and shall comply with all pertinent regulations contained herein. The permit required by this article shall be issued annually, commencing on January 1st and remaining in effect until December 31st. Any permit issued during the course of the year shall expire on December 31st, irrespective of date of issuance. There shall be no proration of fees assessed after the first month of each period.
(c) 
Temporary food establishment permits shall be in effect for a period of time not exceeding 7 consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
Any person desiring to operate a food establishment shall make a written application for a permit on a form provided by the city. The application shall include the name and address of each applicant, the location and type of food establishment and the signature of the applicant. An application for a temporary food establishment shall include the inclusive dates of the proposed operation and the location of the event.
(b) 
The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable permit fee, as set forth in the fee schedule (section A4.003, health permits) found in appendix A of this code, on file and available for inspection in the office of the city secretary.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
Whenever a food establishment is constructed or extensively remodeled, whenever an existing structure is converted to use as a food establishment, properly prepared plans and specifications for such construction, remodeling, or conversion shall be submitted to the city for review and approval before construction, remodeling or conversion is commenced. The plans and specifications shall include a proposed menu, proposed layout, equipment arrangement, construction materials of work areas and finish schedules. No food establishment shall be constructed, extensively remodeled, or converted except in accordance with said approved plans and specifications.
(b) 
Deviation from the approved plans and specifications shall result in a food establishment permit denial, suspension, or revocation.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
The city shall inspect the food establishment prior to the issuance of the food establishment permit to determine compliance with any approved plans and specifications, compliance with other requirements of this article and shall determine that a certificate of occupancy has been issued for the building in which the establishment is to be located. Upon making such findings the food establishment permit may be issued subject to annual renewal, continued compliance with the provisions of this article, and the existence of a valid certificate of occupancy for the building in which the establishment is located.
(b) 
The development services director or his designee shall classify food establishments as high priority, medium priority, or low priority; according to the type of operations, particular foods that are prepared, numbers of people served; susceptibility of the population served, and any other risk factor deemed relevant to the operation.
(c) 
Additional inspections of the food establishment shall be performed as often as necessary for the enforcement of this article.
(d) 
If during a routine inspection, immediate correction of a critical item is not achieved, the city shall verify correction of the violation within ten calendar days. If a critical item is not corrected during the initial inspection, a reinspection fee as set forth in the fee schedule (section A4.003, health permits) found in appendix A of this code, shall be assessed at the follow up inspection.
(e) 
When the total cumulative demerit value of an establishment exceeds 30 demerits, the establishment shall immediately cease operations. The establishment shall remain closed until corrective action on all identified critical violations is complete. Corrective action on all other violations must be initiated within 48 hours. The establishment shall remain closed until reopened by the city, at which time a reinstatement fee as set forth in the fee schedule (section A4.003, health permits) found in appendix A of this code, shall be assessed.
(f) 
Denial of access to city shall be cause for suspension or revocation of the food service establishment permit.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
Every permit holder or person in charge shall at all times have available on the premises for inspection the food handler permit of its employees and shall at all times display in public view the food service establishment permit or mobile food establishment permit.
(b) 
A food service establishment permit that lapses for nonpayment of the annual health permit fee will be reinstated upon payment of a reinstatement fee, as set forth in the fee schedule (section A4.003, health permits) found in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
The city may, without warning, notice, or hearing suspend any permit to operate a food establishment if
(1) 
The holder of such permit does not comply with the requirements of this article; or
(2) 
If the operation of the food establishment otherwise constitutes a substantial hazard to public health.
(b) 
Suspension is effective upon service of the notice. When a permit is suspended, food service operations shall immediately cease.
(c) 
Whenever a permit is suspended the holder thereof shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing within 20 days after receipt of a written request for hearing.
(d) 
Whenever a permit is suspended, the holder thereof shall be notified in writing that an opportunity for a hearing shall be provided if a written request for hearing is filed with the city within ten days after receipt of notice. If no written request for a hearing is filed within a ten-day period, the suspension is sustained. The city may terminate the suspension at any time if reasons for suspension no longer exist.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
The city may, after providing opportunity for a hearing, revoke a permit for serious or repeated violations of any of the requirements of this article or for interference with the city in the performance of its duties.
(b) 
Prior to revocation, the city shall notify, in writing, the holder of the permit or the person in charge, of the specific reason for which the permit is to be revoked and that the permit shall be revoked at the end of the ten days after service of such notice unless a written request for a hearing is filed within the ten-day period. If no request for a hearing is filed within the ten-day period, the revocation of the permit becomes final.
(c) 
The holder of the revoked permit may make a written application for a new permit.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
(a) 
An officer of the city shall tag, label, or otherwise identify any food subject to a hold order. No food subject to a hold order shall be used, served, or moved from the establishment. The city’s hold order shall permit storage of the food under the conditions specified in the hold order, unless storage is not possible without risk to the public health, in which case immediate destruction shall be ordered and accomplished.
(b) 
A hold order shall state that a request for a hearing may be filed within ten days after issuance thereof and that if no hearing is requested the food shall be destroyed. On the basis of evidence produced at that hearing, the hold order may be vacated, or the owner or person in charge of the food may be directed by written order to denature or destroy such food or to bring it into compliance with the provisions of this section.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)
A grease trap or grease interceptor is required unless otherwise approved by the city, and shall be located to be easily accessible for cleaning, operation, and maintenance. Location must be approved by the city and shall not be located within an area where food is held, prepared, stored or transferred. All grease traps and interceptors shall also be approved by the city prior to installation. Grease separators designed to be serviced manually by food establishment employees are not approved. Grease interceptors or separators located above ground, beneath one (1) fixture, are prohibited.
(Ordinance 2020-31 adopted 5/12/20)