The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is scheduled to present a set of final recommendations to a City Council committee on revisions to the Mobile Vending Permits. Below is probably what you will need to accomplish to sling food out of a trailer. It’s filled will complicated legal mubo jumbo, so I have helped out by putting it in layman’s terms.
• Provide proof of a state sales tax permit. (Pay the Man, like everyone else.)
• Pass inspection by the Fire Department. (Don’t burn a hole in S. Congress.)
• Document use of central food preparation facilities and provide notarized certification of the facilities. (Quit making Queso in your bathtub.)
• Provide an itinerary of truck routes. (It’s called a mobile permit for a reason.)
• Provide written permission for employees to use restrooms at the businesses from which the vendors lease space. (No peeing in the creek.)
I like food trailers, but I don’t think many of them qualify under the current Mobile Vending Permit (restricted or unrestricted). Why doesn’t the City come up with a unique permit for these food businesses? They could name it the Immobile Pirate Street Food Permit.
Statesman.com : New rules for mobile vendors taking shape
The City Council on Thursday listened to citizen input on revising the ordinance to allow preparation of hot food at the local farmers’ markets. Jesse from Dai Due Supper Club spoke in favor of the revisions pointing out: “I believe the Mayor came by and got a sausage the other day and I hope he liked it.” Mayor Leffingwell nodded to the affirmative and stated that they are working on a fix.
So… for the time being, food cooked to order at the farmers’ markets is on hold. But, City Hall is on the case. Check back for updates. I’m keeping my finger on this one.
I like going to the Farmers’ Markets and getting something to eat that is prepared right on the spot. It seems like a natural part of the markets. We are, after all, there to interact with food (either buying it, eating it or mocking it). The City of Austin thinks freshly cooked food could hurt us and is revoking the privilege.
I’m all for safety. But, the people at the farmers’ markets appear to be participating out of a labor of love. They truly care about what they are doing. If they were in it for the money, they would be smarter getting a job at a pharmaceutical, finance or energy company where they could be growing some real green. I have more concerns about my health after eating a Twinkie than a scratch made biscuit with homemade jelly. When did we become scared of food our neighbor makes and more trusting of food that comes out of a pipe in a factory?
The Sustainable Food Policy Board (which advises the City Council on food related things in Austin), has moved their meeting start time up to noon (from 12:30) to hear comments from us today. Head over at lunch and let them know what you think. The City Council meets on Thursday about this issue. We can attend this meeting also. If you can’t make it, you can fill out a comment card simply stating “affirmative” (you don’t have to speak) at the electronic kiosk at City Hall.
Sustainable Food Policy Board : 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, TX : March 22nd, Noon
Austin City Council : 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, TX : March 25th : March 25th, 10am (9:45 to be safe)
At SFC’s Downtown Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Dai Due is, for the time being, still selling hot food cooked on the spot (while the City of Austin plumbs it’s soul). My personal favorite being the Bratwurst on a soft roll with sauerkraut and Fireman’s 4 mustard ($7).
The magic cheese made by Chrissy Omo of CKC Farms is now available at at the Downtown Market. I brought up the fact that she needs to drop out of college immediately to make cheese full time and was quickly slapped down by her mother. Lesson learned.
SFC’s Downtown Farmers’ Market : Republic Sq Park, Saturday 9am – 1pm
Dai Due Supper Club
CKC Farms
You know how good the Dai Due Grilled Kielbasa with Housemade Sauerkraut tastes on Saturday mornings at the downtown Farmers’ Market? Well, I would hold on to that memory, because you are not going to be able to get one for the foreseeable future. The City of Austin Health Department has reinterpreted the text of a “mobile temporary event” permit. This will effect anyone who is cooking: Dai Due, Aster’s Ethiopian and Thai Fresh. Taco Deli has their food already prepared, so they are unaffected. I guess Torchy’s Tacos isn’t affected, because they have nothing to do with the market, they just pull their roach coach up next to it.
Tell the City what you think: Sustainable Food Policy Board Meeting, Mon, March 22, 12:30pm – 2:30pm
The first few meetings of the Sustainable Food Policy Board were a little hard for me to sit through, but they had their legs firmly under them now. A lot of good ground was covered at this month’s meeting. A big shout out to the Chair, Marla Camp, for managing the clock with an iron fist (they almost got done inside their scheduled time).
At this month’s meeting Rooster was on the menu. The board finalized a recommendation to the City Council on a proposed ordinance change (Amendment C20-2009-019 to City Code Section 25-2-893). Fowl lovers will rejoice at the Boards pro-rooster position. My kneejerk reaction was “ban, baby, ban!”, but after listening to all the information, it makes sense not to ban roosters. There are already plenty of ordinances on the books to deal with pets, noise and animals in the city. Section 3-2-2 covers noisy animals. A rooster crowing is just like a dog barking. It’s a noise complaint, call 311. We also have Section 3-2-16 “Enclosure for Fowl” ordinance (50′ distance from a neighbor’s home or business). And, if we are all trying to live up to this “Keep Austin Weird” thing, a couple of crazy low-flying fowl could only help! (I’m looking at you 78704.)
The proposal is still in process. The City Planning Commission meeting is in March.
Next Sustainable Food Policy Board meeting : February 22, 2010
|
Sponsor Micro-Sites
The links below launch micro-sites about our contributing local business that keep us up and running. Click and learn more about what makes our sponsors so special.
|
|
