DATE:

 

07/15/2002

SUBJECT:  FINAL READING ORDINANCE NO. 2002-O-154

Amending the City of Laredo Code of Ordinances, Section 13-58(e) Issuance of Food Handler’s Certificates, of Division 3 – Employees, of Article II – Food Products Establishments, of Chapter 13, Food and Food Products, to raise the annual fee of $8.50 to $20.00 for a food handler certificate, establish a $5.00 fee for a duplicate food handler certificate, and to extend the effective period from one year to two years, and to provide for publication and effective date.

INITIATED BY:                                                           STAFF SOURCE:               

Cynthia Collazo                                                              Hector F. Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.H.

Asst. City Manager                                                         Health Director

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:  On July 1, 2002, Council held public hearing introducing ordinance and instructed staff to proceed with final readings.

BACKGROUND:

 

To ensure appropriate public health standards and disease control, the City of Laredo Health Department has determined that it is necessary to increase the fee for issuance of a food handler’s certificate for the food service sanitation training, processing of food handler applications, and maintenance of food handler record.  It has also been determined that it is necessary to establish a fee for duplicate food handler’s certificates for individuals that request replacement food handler’s certificates to ensure quality control.  The Health Department has determined that it is in the best interest of public health to extend the effective period to two (2) years from the issuance date.

 

 

 

CURRENT FEE

# OF FOOD HANDLERS

CURRENT REVENUES

NEW FEE

NEW REVENUES

Food Handler Cert.

8.50

6600

56,100.00

20.00

132,000.00

Duplicate Record

 

100

 

5.00

500.00

TOTAL

 

 

56,100.00

 

132,500.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

FINANCIAL:    The City of Laredo will receive an estimated amount of $77,418 in additional revenues if this increase is approved.

RECOMMENDATION:

STAFF:  Recommends that Council approve  ordinance.

 

 

 

ORDINANCE  NO. 2002-O-154

 

AMENDING THE LAREDO CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 13-58(e) (ISSUANCE OF FOOD HANDLER’S CERTIFICATES) OF DIVISION 3 (EMPLOYEES) OF ARTICLE II (FOOD PRODUCTS ESTABLISHMENTS) OF CHAPTER 13, FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS TO RAISE THE ANNUAL FEE OF $5.00 TO $20.00  FOR A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE, AND ESTABLISH A FEE OF FIVE DOLLARS ($5.00) FOR A DUPLICATE FOOD HANDLER  CERTIFICATE, AND EXTEND THE  EFFECTIVE PERIOD TO TWO (2) YEARS, PROVIDING FOR  PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

WHEREAS, ensure appropriate public health standards and disease control, the City of Laredo Health Department (thereafter called Health Department) has determined that it is necessary to increase the fee for issuance of a food handler’s certificate for the food service sanitation training, processing of food handler applications, and maintenance of food handler records; and

 

WHEREAS, the Health Department has also determined that it is necessary to establish a fee for duplicate food handler’s certificates for individuals that request replacement food handler’s certificates to ensure quality control; and

 

WHEREAS, the Health Department  has determined that it is in the best interest of public health  to extend the effective period to two (2) years from the issuance date; and

 

WHEREAS, a public hearing has been held as to the proposed increase in annual certification fee for food handler certificates at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of this Ordinance in compliance with Section 6.10(B) of the City Charter; and

 

WHEREAS, after public hearing thereon, the City Council of the City of Laredo has determined that it is necessary to increase the annual food handler’s certificate fee to cover the increase costs of training, processing of food handler’s application and maintenance of food handler’s records relating to issuance of certificates.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDANINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO:

 

Section 1.  Amendment.

 

                That Section 13.58(e) of the Code of Ordinances be and is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

                (b)  in the event that the health department’s food service sanitation training has been successfully completed, a food handler’s certificate shall forthwith be duly issued to such qualified person for an effective period of [one (1)]two (2) years from the issuance date.

 

                (e)  The health department shall collect a fee of [eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50)] twenty dollars ($20.00) for the issuance of a food handler’s certificate for the administration of the health department’s food service sanitation training and for partially defraying the cost thereof.  The health department shall collect a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for the issuance of duplicate food handler’s certificate.

 

Section 2. Publication.

 

                This Ordinance shall be published one (1) time in a newspaper of general circulation in Laredo.

 

Section 3. Effective Date.

 

                This Ordinance shall become effective not less than sixty (60) days from the date of the public hearing on this Ordinance, in accordance with the City Charter.

 

 

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS THE ____________ DAY OF ________________________, 2002 .

 

 

_____________________

ELIZABETH  G. FLORES

MAYOR

 

ATTEST:

 

_____________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.

CITY SECRETARY

 

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:

 

_______________________

 JAIME L. FLORES

 CITY ATTORNEY