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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Food Service Advisory Committee - 01/30/2019FOOD SERVICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Minutes of 1/30/19 for Approval Members in Attendance: Dr. Patricia Polastri (Chair), Arturo Garcia, Jonathan Villarreal, Malcolm Deshields, and Alana Fischer Members Absent: George Brown and Julio Garza Staff Liaisons: Lauren Rabe Dr. Polastri, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm after stating that we had reached quorum. A motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting was moved to accept by Patricia Polastri with a second motion by Jonathan Villarreal; minutes were accepted unanimously. George Brown and Julio Garza were not in attendance and did not provide Lauren Rabe with notice of their absence prior to the meeting; therefore, the Committee decided unanimously that the absences would be considered unexcused. The meeting continued with Malcolm DeShields stating that there is a person by the name of Mr. Ike Brachen who is giving away food at Flint Hills. Lauren Rabe then stated that a person does not need a Health Permit unless they are selling their food. In addition, the Environmental & Consumer Health Services Division promotes that individuals who give away food should let the Division know so we can provide them with the appropriate set-up information. Lauren Rabe then proceeded to give the Environmental & Consumer Health Division Manager’s Report. The total number of Food Service Establishments in the Division’s authority is a total of 2875 with 90% of Health Permit fees collected. Lauren continued to report the following: Goal: Ensure Food Service Establishments follow the Texas Food Establishments Rules (TFER) and City Ordinances *STRATEGY: Conduct food service establishment inspections Problem this strategy is addressing: Food service establishments (permanent and mobile) that are not following TFER standards in proper food handling and preparation. Tasks necessary to execute strategy (Final Numbers for 2018) Task 1) Inspect food service establishments: 4533 Task 2) Instruct 100 food handlers’ classes in English and Spanish to ensure proper food safety is adhered to by the food handlers at the restaurants: 243 Task 3) Respond to high priority food complaints within a 24-hour period to ensure public safety: 189/196 (96.4%) Task 4) Inspect Mobile Food Service Establishments on an annual basis to ensure that the unit can serve safe food products to customers: 313 In addition, Lauren reported the following projects and upcoming training: (1) Applied for DSHS grant funding and received $43,059.00 With this grant funding the Environmental & Consumer Health Services Division will be doing the following activities: a. Provide every food service establishment with a Foodborne, Environmental, and Waterborne Disease Prevention Kit (FEWD). The FEWD Kit will contain educational material and basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that can be utilized when returning to their place of business after a Hurricane or any other natural disaster. b. Cross-train and conduct a Table-Top Exercise with Health Department employees that are part of a Disaster Emergency Response Team (DERT). This training and exercise will provide the necessary resources to Health Department employees to assist the Public Health Inspectors when re-opening food service establishments after a Hurricane or after any other natural disaster. c. Hire a part-time employee to assist in preparing the FEWD Kits, educating the community, and validating/updating all food service establishments contact information to easily disperse information before, during, and after a Hurricane and or any other natural disaster. d. March 28-29, 2019: 2 Public Health Inspectors will be attending the 2019 South Texas All Hazards Conference in McAllen, TX. The Food Service Advisory Committee then discussed the possibility of hosting an educational/informational session that can be attended by the public and restaurant owners to raise awareness of the Committee and the services provided by the Environmental & Consumer Health Services Division. We discussed possibly having this type of event in the Summer. Last Discussion Points: Patricia Polastri stated that the Jack-In-the Box on Saratoga was filthy; Lauren Rabe said that a Public Health Inspector will go out and inspect the facility. Malcolm DeShields stated that the Environmental & Consumer Health Services Division should look at how other jurisdictions make restaurants post their latest inspection report, so the public can easily see it. Alana Fischer stated that restaurant owners/managers are saying that Public Health Inspectors should be more consistent and are being too lenient in some of their findings. Lauren Rabe stated that she would have a meeting with the Public Health Inspectors to ensure that everyone is imposing the same TFER rules and regulations. No further discussion took place and a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Dr. Polastri and seconded by Jonathan Villarreal; the meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:40pm.