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Committee approves three-year MOA for local food, lodging, pool inspections with DATCP
Summary
Wauwatosa's health department received committee approval to extend a memorandum of agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to cover local inspections and licensing through June 30, 2028.
The Wauwatosa Government Affairs Committee voted unanimously March 11 to approve a three-year memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Wauwatosa Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), extending the city’s agreement through June 30, 2028.
Megan, the health department’s public health manager, told the committee the current agreement expires June 30, 2025, and the updated MOA would extend DATCP-authorized local inspection, licensing and complaint response services to 06/30/2028. "Our current agreement expires on June thirtieth of 2025, and the updated 3 year agreement would extend it to 06/30/2028," Megan said.
The MOA covers retail food establishments, public swimming pools and water attractions, hotels and motels, tourist rooming houses and short-term rentals, and bed-and-breakfast establishments in Wauwatosa. Under the agreement, the health department issues licenses, conducts inspections and maintains records and inspection reports; follows up on complaints and foodborne illness outbreaks; collects samples; and enforces applicable state statutes, local ordinances and administrative codes. The health department commits two environmental health specialists who each dedicate 50% of their time to the contract and retains a percentage of licensing revenue for technical assistance to the state, the manager said. The MOA also requires an annual assessment and a three-year site visit by the state to ensure compliance.
Alder McClough asked whether the updated agreement contained substantive changes; the health manager said the changes were minor, primarily updated FDA-required trainings, and that there were no major substantive changes from the outgoing MOA. Alder McClough moved approval; another alderperson seconded. The chair called the motion and reported unanimous support.
The committee’s approval forwards the MOA to the full common council for final acceptance and continued operation of state-authorized inspection and licensing services at the local level.
