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GARLAND POLICY REPORT
			Work Session Item 3.c.
City Council Work Session Agenda
Meeting Date: 12/04/2023   Item Title:    Ordinance Amendment-Removing Fee Waiver for Food Excellence Awards Submitted By: Mandy Pippen Council Goal: Consistent Delivery of Reliable City Services
ISSUE
In an effort to more directly align Garland Health food inspections with the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER), staff have started making adjustments to the inspection process to focus on violations directly related to food-borne illness versus violations that are more aesthetic and structural in nature.  This shift in focus has impacted the ability to equally compare inspection scores now compared to before the shift in focus.  Additionally, Garland Health Department needs the revenues forfeited for the Food Excellence Awards to sustain current levels of service. Therefore, the Garland Health Department is requesting the City Council remove the provision in GCO 228.247 (c)(3) which exempts permitting fees for those food establishments whose inspection scores ranked in the highest five (5) percentile within each classification.  Staff will continue to implement the Food Excellence Awards Program, which includes a certificate the establishment can post in public view advertising their achievement and multiple avenues of free publicity including posts on the City’s website, Garland City Press and social media.   Additionally, staff will continue to improve alignment with TFER and make additional inspection adjustments for the benefit of the citizens, the food establishments, and the City, while working to evaluate more effective methods to incentivize the Food Excellence Awards Program without reducing the much-needed revenue necessary to sustain Health Department services.
OPTIONS
Remove 228.247 (c)(3) in GCO Section 22.26, preventing inequitable comparison of food establishments between earlier inspections and those performed later in the year and preventing the loss of at least $25,950 in revenue annually. Take no action.  No action will result in additional increased revenues lost above prior years due to the increased number of food establishments within the City of Garland.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends removing Section 228.247 (c)(3) of the Garland City Ordinance, thus no longer waiving permit fees for establishments recognized in the Food Excellence Award Program.
BACKGROUND
Historically, the Garland Health Department has recognized Food Excellence Award Winners annually. At its height, the awards included a catered award banquet, waived permit fees, publishing of winners in local media, and award certificates. The award banquet has been discontinued for at least 18 years. The Health Department intends to keep recognizing the award winners with certificates and publicity while retaining the previously lost revenues associated with the program.
CONSIDERATION
Unless otherwise directed by Council, this item will be scheduled for formal consideration at the December 12, 2023 Regular Meeting.
Attachments Food Service Ordinance-Permit Fee Amendment

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