Regular-General Government # 36.
Board of Supervisors
County Administrator
- Meeting Date:
- 09/24/2024
- Brief Title
- Road to Licensure Update
From:
Gerardo Pinedo, County Administrative Officer
Staff Contact:
Berenice Espitia & Cindy Perez, Associate Management Analysts, County Administrator's Office, x8560/x5775
Supervisorial District Impact:
Districts 3 & 5
Subject
Receive an updated presentation on the proposed Road to Licensure Program options for unlicensed food vendors in the City of Woodland; provide direction to staff regarding preferred Program options; and delegate authority to the CAO to begin implementation of the Program consistent with the Board’s direction. (No general fund impact) (Pinedo/Espitia/Perez) (Est. Time: 20 min)
Recommended Action
- Receive an updated presentation on the proposed Road to Licensure program for unlicensed food vendors in the City of Woodland; and
- Provide direction to staff regarding the Board's preferred options for the Road to Licensure Program; and
- Delegate authority to the CAO to begin implementation of the Road to Licensure Program consistent with the Board's direction.
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
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Thriving Residents |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
In recent years, the County has seen an increase in unlicensed street food vendors, particularly in the City of Woodland. There are a variety of reasons for this increase. The main issue is that food tents often sell on sites which may be dangerous to health and safety for the employees and patrons. Street food tents also lack the proper food storage facilities, hand-washing stations, and food-safe temperature control mechanisms. These scenarios increase the risk of accidents or food-borne illnesses which compromise public safety. The street food vendors may lack the awareness for safe food-handling and legal licensure, as well as lack the necessary channels and education for standards compliance. For this reason, County of Yolo staff propose a Road to Licensure program to collaborate with the City of Woodland to address this multi-layered issue.
Key data was introduced to the Board of Supervisors on August 28, 2024, when this issue was first presented:
- 21 vendors represent the intended population to receive support
- Pop-ups – Low Risk = 5
- Pop-ups – High Risk = 7
- Pushcarts – Low Risk = 9
- Pilot Program Operator Cost (Maximum participant capacity limited to 5 vendors)
- $240 per day for 5 Hours
- Monthly Rate: $31,200
- Cost of becoming a licensed food vendor
- Median Permitting and License Fees $2,565 to $2,910
- Median Cost of Equipment is between $8,650 to $29,000
The Pilot Program Operator estimated costs received from Meals on Wheels present an option to include a commissary space concept into the Road to Licensure program. Meals on Wheels may be a prospective pilot program partner to organize food-handling safety trainings as well as provide a certified kitchen and food preparation commissary space that will allow vendors to qualify for health permit requirements. The number of participants is limited to 5 vendors given that their facility space has limited capacity. A second non-profit operator may be needed to accommodate a larger number of pilot program participants.
Compact Mobile Food Operations (CMFOs) are food operations that operate a non-motorized vehicle in which food is prepared on the CMFO or in a permitted kitchen or restaurant. To be in compliance with the Yolo County Environmental Health Division, food handlers must be educated on how to reduce risks of foodborne illness, obtain food from a safe source, store food at proper temperatures, and have ready access to handwashing facilities on their designated CMFO equipment. To support the estimated 21 food vendors to be fully licensed, a conceptual option for consideration for the Yolo County Board of Supervisors may be to provide one-time equipment grant subsidies for up to $1,000 or more as part of the proposed Road to Licensure program. Also, a potential fee waiver could be considered by the Board for licensing costs associated with health and business permits from the County and City. Participation in the Road to Licensure program would be subject to participation criteria pending further review on behalf of County Counsel.
In the past, the Yolo County Environmental Health division held two workshops in 2023 on how to obtain a CMFO permit. One workshop was in-person, and one took place via Zoom. The workshops were well attended and several unpermitted street food vendors that YCEH and Woodland Code Enforcement have had previous contact with attended the in-person workshop. While the workshops were held in English, staff was on hand to translate the information into Spanish at the in-person workshop. YCEH issued a press release ahead of the workshops and fliers for the workshop were given to unpermitted food vendors during a joint education effort between YCEH and Woodland Code Enforcement. Since the workshops, YCEH has issued CMFO permits to six (6) previously unpermitted food vendors. YCEH developed a free CMFO Proposal Form which anyone interested in obtaining a CMFO permit can submit to facilitate YCEH providing appropriate information and guidance to potential CMFO operators. This form is also available in Spanish. Given that the two workshops have demonstrated success by issuing six CMFO permits, staff recommends additional, perhaps more robust, educational workshops on food safety and CMFO permitting procedures as part of the Road to Licensure program proposal.
It is anticipated that the City of Woodland would participate in a 50/50 cost share with the County for any associated program and equipment grant subsidy costs. Staff recommends the Road to Licensure program be contingent upon such cost sharing and a Memorandum of Understanding with City. County Staff understands City staff will be making a similar presentation to the Woodland City Council at a future City Council meeting. Staff is also aware that the City has sent courtesy violation notices to property owners on whose property unlicensed food vending is occurring. Consistent with city representative remarks, county staff believe the City of Woodland would more readily agree to partner with the County on fee waivers or reduced licensing costs for qualified food vendors and public education workshops. YCEH has not taken any enforcement action to date, though full enforcement would be concurrent with the Road to Licensure program launch. Enforcement activities conducted by Environmental Health would initially focus on education and opportunities afforded by a Road to Licensure program to provide a pathway to licensure and compliance.
If the Board were to approve a defined concept for the Road to Licensure program on September 24, 2024, and delegate authority to staff for implementation, staff would prepare all informational outreach materials necessary to inform the public about the features of the program through the month of October 2024. As of November 2024, all prepared materials and a website page would be made available to begin the outreach and program application process. Through November, all program applications would be reviewed and accepted. The Road to Licensure program would officially launch concurrent with full enforcement procedures.
Staff have developed a revised Conceptual Options List for the Board of Supervisors’ review and consideration, including the above-mentioned Road to Licensure program proposal concepts, to facilitate the discussion at the September 24th Board Meeting.
Conceptual Options List:
Compact Mobile Food Operations (CMFOs) are food operations that operate a non-motorized vehicle in which food is prepared on the CMFO or in a permitted kitchen or restaurant. To be in compliance with the Yolo County Environmental Health Division, food handlers must be educated on how to reduce risks of foodborne illness, obtain food from a safe source, store food at proper temperatures, and have ready access to handwashing facilities on their designated CMFO equipment. To support the estimated 21 food vendors to be fully licensed, a conceptual option for consideration for the Yolo County Board of Supervisors may be to provide one-time equipment grant subsidies for up to $1,000 or more as part of the proposed Road to Licensure program. Also, a potential fee waiver could be considered by the Board for licensing costs associated with health and business permits from the County and City. Participation in the Road to Licensure program would be subject to participation criteria pending further review on behalf of County Counsel.
In the past, the Yolo County Environmental Health division held two workshops in 2023 on how to obtain a CMFO permit. One workshop was in-person, and one took place via Zoom. The workshops were well attended and several unpermitted street food vendors that YCEH and Woodland Code Enforcement have had previous contact with attended the in-person workshop. While the workshops were held in English, staff was on hand to translate the information into Spanish at the in-person workshop. YCEH issued a press release ahead of the workshops and fliers for the workshop were given to unpermitted food vendors during a joint education effort between YCEH and Woodland Code Enforcement. Since the workshops, YCEH has issued CMFO permits to six (6) previously unpermitted food vendors. YCEH developed a free CMFO Proposal Form which anyone interested in obtaining a CMFO permit can submit to facilitate YCEH providing appropriate information and guidance to potential CMFO operators. This form is also available in Spanish. Given that the two workshops have demonstrated success by issuing six CMFO permits, staff recommends additional, perhaps more robust, educational workshops on food safety and CMFO permitting procedures as part of the Road to Licensure program proposal.
It is anticipated that the City of Woodland would participate in a 50/50 cost share with the County for any associated program and equipment grant subsidy costs. Staff recommends the Road to Licensure program be contingent upon such cost sharing and a Memorandum of Understanding with City. County Staff understands City staff will be making a similar presentation to the Woodland City Council at a future City Council meeting. Staff is also aware that the City has sent courtesy violation notices to property owners on whose property unlicensed food vending is occurring. Consistent with city representative remarks, county staff believe the City of Woodland would more readily agree to partner with the County on fee waivers or reduced licensing costs for qualified food vendors and public education workshops. YCEH has not taken any enforcement action to date, though full enforcement would be concurrent with the Road to Licensure program launch. Enforcement activities conducted by Environmental Health would initially focus on education and opportunities afforded by a Road to Licensure program to provide a pathway to licensure and compliance.
If the Board were to approve a defined concept for the Road to Licensure program on September 24, 2024, and delegate authority to staff for implementation, staff would prepare all informational outreach materials necessary to inform the public about the features of the program through the month of October 2024. As of November 2024, all prepared materials and a website page would be made available to begin the outreach and program application process. Through November, all program applications would be reviewed and accepted. The Road to Licensure program would officially launch concurrent with full enforcement procedures.
Staff have developed a revised Conceptual Options List for the Board of Supervisors’ review and consideration, including the above-mentioned Road to Licensure program proposal concepts, to facilitate the discussion at the September 24th Board Meeting.
Conceptual Options List:
| # | Conceptual Options | Amount | County Staff Recommendation | °Agreement from the City |
| Licensing | ||||
| 1 | Fee waiver for all licensing costs for qualified food vendors (one-time). * | $56,280 | √ | √ |
| Equipment | ||||
| 2 | Subsidizing CMFO equipment to qualify 5 - 21 unlicensed vendors for licensure (one-time). * | $77,850 - 324,100 | ||
| 3 | Provide equipment grant subsidies for up to $1,000 for up to 21 street food vendors. * | $21,000 | √ | |
| Commissary | ||||
| 4 | Nonprofit/Commissary Operator Annual Estimated Cost (Meals on Wheels) * Potential additional soft-costs to fund staff hours, OT, utilities, etc. |
$374,400 | ||
| 5 | Nonprofit/Commissary Operator Annual Estimated Cost (Meals on Wheels) * The County would cover the full amount for the first 3 months and Food Vendors would pay $500 each month for 9 months. Potential additional soft-costs to fund staff hours, OT, utilities, etc. |
351,900 | ||
| Education | ||||
| 6 | Environmental Health CMFO Permit & Food Safety Workshops. | - | √ | In Progress |
| Legislation/ Regulatory | ||||
| 7 | Receive an update from staff on opting-in and regulating home-based micro kitchens in Yolo County as an additional potential pathway. | N/A | ||
| 8 | Direct CAO and Environmental Health staff to review potential legislative concepts to reduce the barrier of entry for prepared food vending without compromising public health. | √ | N/A | |
| * These amounts would be cost-shared with City of Woodland. | ||||
| ° Based upon verbal comments from City Manager. We anticipate more information to come. | ||||
Blue = New Recommendation
Pending Board direction, CAO staff would receive delegated authority for program implementation as adopted on September 24, 2024. Should the Board approve the staff recommended options, staff would attempt to absorb the related costs within the Adopted Budget, returning to the Board at mid-year with any budget adjustments if necessary.
Pending Board direction, CAO staff would receive delegated authority for program implementation as adopted on September 24, 2024. Should the Board approve the staff recommended options, staff would attempt to absorb the related costs within the Adopted Budget, returning to the Board at mid-year with any budget adjustments if necessary.
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
Supervisoral District 3
Supervisoral District 5
City of Woodland
County Administrator's Office
Community Services - Environmental Health Department
Meals on Wheels
Supervisoral District 5
City of Woodland
County Administrator's Office
Community Services - Environmental Health Department
Meals on Wheels
Fiscal Impact
No Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $ 0
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $ 0
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $ 0
- One-time commitment:
- Yes
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- General Fund
- $0
Further explanation as needed:
No funding request at this time.
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Berenice Espitia (Originator) | Berenice Espitia | 09/16/2024 04:15 PM |
| Cindy Perez | Cindy Perez | 09/19/2024 02:38 PM |
| Berenice Espitia (Originator) | Berenice Espitia | 09/19/2024 02:45 PM |
| Kimberly Hood | Kimberly Hood | 09/19/2024 05:39 PM |
| Kimberly Hood | Kimberly Hood | 09/19/2024 05:39 PM |
| Mark Bryan | Mark Bryan | 09/20/2024 08:46 AM |
| Yen Nguyen | Yen Nguyen | 09/20/2024 09:18 AM |
- Form Started By:
- Berenice Espitia
- Started On:
- 09/10/2024 02:41 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 09/20/2024