Food trucks inspections, permitting may change under new city resolution
In a meeting on March 21, the Austin City Council voted to ask the City Manager's Office to "explore options" to change the city's rules around the inspection of food trucks, potentially removing a rule that would require operators to move their food truck.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a meeting on March 21, the Austin City Council voted to ask the City Manager's Office to "explore options" to change the city's rules around the inspection of food trucks, potentially removing a rule that would require operators to move their food truck.
Currently, the city code requires food truck owners to drive their trucks to an inspection location. This rule is required by state law in order to demonstrate that a "mobile food establishment is readily moveable."
The resolution is targeted at food trucks with existing location agreements and regular locations. It calls for the city to adopt an "opt-in" program for food truck operators with such agreements, allowing their inspections to be completed at that regular location.
"Closing and moving mobile food establishments for full days to attend a central inspection facility financially burdens microbusiness owners and negatively impacts their employees," the city's resolution reads.
The resolution did not explain how it would change the inspection process while still complying with state law but left it as a requirement for the City Manager to work around.
The City Council called for the City Manager "to bring the available options for City Code
amendments, implementation plan, and staffing costs" to the council's May 30 meeting.
"Accessible and Inclusive" permitting process
The city also wants changes to Austin Public Health's Environmental Health Services Division, to improve language access for food truck owners and to collect demographic data of those owners.
"Of the over 1,500 mobile food vendors operating within the city limits of Austin, it is estimated that more than 80% are people of color," the city's resolution reads.
Austin Public Health would also gather data on how many workers are employed at each food truck.
Under the proposed policy, the city would also allow applicants to use online notaries to complete their permit applications, in order to make the process easier. The city also wants Austin Public Health's Language Access team to further reform the process to "ensure equitable and culturally proficient language access."