Council debates health inspection fee changes after state law forces vendor-level permits

Health Director Coleman briefed council on the impact of recent state legislation (referred to in the meeting as Senate Bill 10 08 and House Bill 2844) that, according to city staff, prevents local jurisdictions from issuing a single special-event permit covering multiple vendors. Coleman said the result is that each vendor at events such as Taste of the Triangle must obtain a temporary food permit at the state-set rate (quoted by staff as $52 for up to 14 consecutive days).

Coleman also described a newly added local inspection fee (identified in city materials as $150) that, when combined with existing permit costs, prompted concern from council members for small, mom-and-pop vendors. Council members asked whether the city could use tiered fees, rescind the inspection fee for existing permit holders, or otherwise mitigate the cost for single-day, short events. Coleman said the city is required to follow state food establishment rules and cannot charge more than state-set maximums, but council retains authority over local inspection fees and the master fee schedule.

Council members proposed options including rescinding the $150 inspection fee, creating a single-day temporary permit at a lower local rate, or structuring tiered fees by event length; staff cautioned that some inspections (schools, USDA-related programs) are required and would still incur costs. Coleman also reported the department will lose some revenue under the new state regime (staff estimated roughly $47,557 in program revenue loss) and that the city previously used a special-event permit model that aggregated fees for organizers.