Adopt Ordinance Amending Article IV "Food Establishments," of Chapter 16, "Health and Sanitation" of the Code of the City of Fort Worth (2015) to Revise the Chapter Reference to the Texas Administrative Code of the Texas Food Establishment Rules (ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS)

It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance amending Chapter 16, Article IV of the City Code which governs food establishments, to revise the Texas Administrative Code chapter reference for the Texas Food Establishment Rules to: 1) protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Fort Worth, 2) safeguard public health and 3) allow enforcement in compliance with State Law.

In October 2015 the Texas Department of State Health Services revised and updated the "Texas Food Establishment Rules" previously residing in 25 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 229.161 – 229.171 and 229.173 – 229.175 and moved to 25 TAC 228.

The City had previously adopted the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) with specific reference to TAC 229.161 et. seq.  Though the name of the Texas Food Establishment Rules remains the same in the TAC, the move from Section 229 to Section 228 requires an amendment to Chapter 16 to reflect this move and revision of the TFER. The amendments to the ordinance provide consistency throughout the ordinance where the TFER is referenced. Additionally, these changes will not impact the existing departmental and divisional policies and procedures.

A survey of Texas benchmark cities revealed that Dallas, Houston, El Paso and San Antonio have already amended their ordinances to reflect the move and revision of the TFER.

No additional amendments are being proposed.

This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.