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MINUTES
The Community Services Committee of the City of Garland convened in regular session at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in the Work Session Room, 200 North Fifth Street, Garland, Texas, with the following members:
Present:
Deborah Morris, Chair
Margaret Lucht, Council Member
Ed Moore, Council Member
Staff Present:
Mikayla Ray, Management Services Coordinator
Kevin Slay, Managing Director
Mandy Pippen, Health Director
Brian England, City Attorney
Phillip Urrutia, Assistant City Manager
Shawn Weinstein, Code Compliance Manager
AGENDA
:
1.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a.
Consider approval of the Community Services Committee for the June 6, 2023, meeting
After a motion by Lucht and a second from Moore the minutes of the June 6, 2023 meeting were approved unanimously.
2.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There being no public comments, Morris moved to the next agenda item.
3.
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
a.
Discuss Mobile Ice Cream Sales
England provided a draft ordinance related to Ice Cream Truck Sales. England stated that recent legislative actions have had an impact on our ability to regulate. The city’s authority to regulate is limited due to the expanded role of the county. England stated that several of the provisions in the proposed draft will need to be changed and the draft also includes the sale of snow cones. England provided an overview of the proposed draft. Morris suggested the language be revised to include an active school zone. England stated the next draft would also include provisions related to food carts. Morris expressed concerns about how the provisions might impact Scoop N Buns Ice Cream and Kona Ice. Morris questioned the definition of packaged and prepackaged sales. Pippen stated we need to differentiate between prepackaged and packaged items and should better define each. Moore stated just to remind everyone we are just talking about the sale of these products while being sold in neighborhoods not at events or other activities. Morris stated this is not a city-wide restriction only while conducting business within a neighborhood. England stated the county will likely give the city inspection enforcement responsibilities. Moore stated we should only focus on the areas we have control until we know what the county is going to do. Let’s keep it simple until Dallas County makes its final decision. Morris stated there’s always a risk to consider when people are touching food and there’s a big difference from packaged to prepackaged food. Morris stated this my not be the best time to be discussing due to the changes brought on by the state and county. Morris asked England to bring back a revised draft to be discussed at the next meeting.
b.
Discuss Food Truck Event Fees and Other Requirements
Morris stated that a citizen questioned the differences in fees associated with food trucks involved in city events verses a private event. The citizen questioned why there was a $100 fee difference between the two events. Morris asked why the fees weren’t the same across the board. England stated if it is a private party on private property the city should not be charging a fee. If it’s a city sponsored event on public property, we could charge a licensing fee to occupy the space. Morris asked why we were charging the fee at city events. Pippen stated it was primarily to cover the cost of the food truck inspections which can be very time consuming. Moore stated there are city expenses involved and we probably need to cover our costs. It’s probably not wise to remove the fee. Morris clarified that the city would no longer be charging a fee related to private events and stated that it puts us in a difficult position when a truck comes to a city event and gets charged. England stated its more of a liability and PR issue if there is no inspection and someone becomes ill from eating at a food truck. If it’s a private event we’ll just have to trust they are following the law, our name won’t be associate with it. Van Horne stated we probably need to reevaluate our fee structure and base it on the size of the event being conducted. Morris asked how long it would take to pull something together. Van Horne stated there are a lot of departments involved in our special events and we all need to sit down together to discuss. Morris asked that recommendation be brought back within the next month or two if possible.
4.
ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Morris adjourned the meeting at 5:16 p.m.
Submitted By:
_____________________________________________________________
Deborah Morris, Chair
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Kevin Slay, Staff Liaison
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