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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Food Service Advisory Committee - 09/02/2003 Minutes FOOD SERVICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE September 2,2003 Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District Administration Conference Room Members Present: John Denson, Gabriel Hernandez,James D. Robbins, William Schroeder, Suzanne Gilliam, and D. W.Haven Members Absent: Robert Ard Staff Present: Larry Jones,Annette Rodriguez,Dr. Michael Silvers, and Jorge Cruz-Aedo Meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. 'Mr. Schroeder welcomed all members and guest, Jorge Cruz-Aedo,Assistant City Manager. Minutes of the July 15`meeting were discussed. Mr. Haven requested the sentence on the third page, last paragraph that read: The survey will also consist of restaurant owners becoming smoke free if it was a law; to be amended to read: The survey will also ask owners if they would be willing to voluntarily go smoke-free if the majority of restaurants did so. Mr.Robbins noted his name to be corrected to James D. Robbins on page one of the minutes. On page two, the seventh paragraph,the sentence that read: Mr. Robbins requested to see the change in procedures should another issue like this rise again; should be amended to read: Mr.Robbins requested to see the draft with changes in procedures should another issue like this rise again. Mr.Robbins also had a concern with the eighth paragraph, last sentence. His understanding in a water shortage was that most State assets for water supply were deployed to military personnel. Minutes werethen approved with the amendments. Board Business Mr. Schroeder introduced Dr. Silvers to the committee. Dr. Silvers then provided the committee with a brief bio of himself. He informed the committee that he was trained in preventivemedicine and public health. He has worked for the Centers of Disease Control, CDC,in Atlanta, GA. He was also the chief medical advisor for the Peace Corp, and Director of Health Department in Louisville,KY. He also has much environmental training,including restaurant inspection and food safety. A priority of Dr. Silvers for the community is related to food service. Dr. Silvers commented that the ABC rating scale posters were clear and concise. He emphasized working as a team to continue to improve the community. SCANNED 1 • Each of the committee members then briefly introduced him/herself. As Mr. Robbins introduced himself,he expressed his concern with the distribution of food within facilities for the homeless. Suzanne Gilliam introduced herself as the nutrition coordinator of the head start program in Nueces County. She expressed concern in hand washing, childhood food intake resulting in obesity and diabetes. The introductions continued. Mr. Haven noted that the City of Corpus Christi was one of the first cities in Texas to create a Food Service Advisory Committee to open communication with restaurant operation. As a result,Corpus Christi became the second city within the State to require manager training on food service handling which is now a State law. Furthermore,the City of Corpus Christi is one of the few cities that require food service employees to have training as well. Mr. Haven added that the above mentioned has substantially raised the standards of the City. The health department along with the Restaurant Association have presented stricter standards for food handling to City Council than required by State, said Mr. Haven. Dr. Silvers concurred with the importance of the Health Department, the Restaurant's Association, and the Food Service Advisory Committee collaborating. Restaurant owners and inspectors having good rapport create a mutual respect. Mr. Denson noted that the restaurant owners as well as the inspectors have a mutual interest. Mr. Hernandez commented that the Environmental Health staff were a good staff and very professional. Mr. Robbins asked who inspected the nursing homes. Mr. Jones educated the committee that the Environmental Division inspects the food aspect of the nursing homes. The long term inspections are conducted by the State of Texas, TDH. Mr. Jones clarified that the inspectors do not coordinate with the State. Dr. Silvers suggested possibly discussing the concern of the committee, the distribution of unused food to persons in need, on an upcoming agenda. He added that he had worked on the same concern in Louisville. The committee inquired if the issue was a State or local concern. Dr. Silvers clarified that it was a local issue taking precedent since standards were higher locally. Mr. Robbins had a concern with persons making a. homemade meal and taking the remains to homeless shelters; all meals distributed at shelters should be prepared by a certified kitchen. He felt that the kitchen workers at the shelters should be educated regarding situations similar to this. Mr. Jones added that the . education would be provided to the shelters and its employees. ' Managers Report: Larry Jones spoke of the statistics in the division. There have been less food service complaints compared to a year ago and an increase in inspections conducted. The concern'is the decrease in sales of food handlers permits. He noted that this had always been a fluctuating area within the division. He informed and supplied the committee with copies of the fee increase and new fees implemented approved by City Council in July. The food handler fee has increased from 2 $6 to $7. There was increase fee for manager food permits from$6 to $7 as well. A fee of$50 has been implemented for a re-inspection when staff re-inspects within 48 hours. If the restaurant still is not within compliance,the inspectors re-inspect a second time within ten business days with an addition$50 fee. On the third offense, a meeting is held with the Food Service Advisory Committee regarding the adjudication of a restaurant. Same applies for the second and third regular inspections. For restaurants with continuous failed inspections, the question arises should the restaurant remain in business. Mr. Jones explained that other urban areas have had much success with this ordinance. It catches the public's attention in that the restaurant owners do not wish to continually pay for excessive fees. He noted since August 1st,the division has collected$300 in re- inspection fees. City Council also implemented a fee of$50 to foster home inspections. Furthermore, the fee for daycares has increased to $50. The income of these fees is being allocated to the City of Corpus Christi. Mr. Haven asked how frequently foster home inspections were conducted. Mr. Jones clarified that inspections were conducted annually, unless otherwise requested. Larry Jones noted that roughly 100 inspections were conducted within the past fiscal year. Mr. Robbins had a question regarding the fee and inspections for cosmetology. Annette Rodriguez clarified that the individual was tested for communicable diseases. Mr. Jones added that a state agency was involved for the inspection of tools. Other inspections are conducted by regional or state agencies. Old Business: None New Business: Ms. Gilliam had a question concerning the inspection of day care facilities including the head start programs. The sanitation solution should be about a tea spoon of bleach per gallon of water. The new licensing standards have been released for the State of Texas. According to their standards,the measurement of bleach for eating utensils is a table spoon of bleach per gallon of bleach. She added that the licensing division needed some documentation from the health department stating the department's standards. Mr. Jones said he would contact the State regarding this issue. Ms. Gilliam requested a copy of the correspondence. Mr. Schroeder again welcomed Dr. Silvers before the committee. Mr. Robbins asked again the responsibilities of the committee in a catastrophic event. Dr. Silvers clarified that the committee could be involved in the planning stages of such an event. Mr. Cruz-Aedo informed the committee that the local advisory committees would be involved in the execution of post disaster issues. 3 Mr. Robbins again stressed his concern in the distribution of water and state assets in a disastrous situation. He also voiced that he was eager to view the procedural manual related to a catastrophic event. Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held on November 4, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. in the Administration Conference Room at the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District, 1702 Home Road. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m. 4