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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFee Waiver - Benevolent OrganizationsDeschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org AGENDA REQUEST & STAFF REPORT For Board Business Meeting of May 25, 2011 Please see directions for completing this document on the next page. DATE: May 17, 2011 FROM: Eric Mone - Health Services, Environmental Health Supervisor 541-388-6566 TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of financial support to Environmental Health to cover the $0 license fee charged to Benevolent Organizations (see attached list) which receive two (2) inspections per year. PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? No BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: State law requires local jurisdictions to charge a reduced fee for food preparation/service licenses for benevolent organizations. The practice in Deschutes County has been to waive the fee entirely for permanent benevolent establishments. In FY 2008-09 and FY 2009-10, in recognition of this unfunded mandate, the Board elected to cover the cost of providing these fee waivers through a transfer to the Community Development Department, where Environmental Health was then housed. Environmental Health licenses and inspects eight of these Benevolent Organizations in the County. They provide a wonderful service to our county serving seniors, homeless and indigent populations, and anybody who needs a hot meal. Our inspections are critical, as these populations are considered highly susceptible to foodborne illness. In addition, these Organizations oftentimes use volunteers who do not work with food every day. Our inspections are very thorough and we do our best to educate Persons -in - Charge and volunteers. Other counties charge up to half of the restaurant fee amount to Benevolent Organizations. We would like to continue to waive to licensing and inspection fees to these Organizations in our County, given the important service they provide to our residents. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: S6, 480 RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED: Environmental Health requests approval. ATTENDANCE: Eric Mone, EH Supervisor DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS: Eric Mone, EH Supervisor Scott Johnson, Health Services Director Nancy England, Contract Specialist, Health Services 2010-11 EXEMPT FACILITIES NUMBER FEE FEE IF NOT NAME OF FACILITY OF SEATS CHARGED EXEMPT Bend Community Center 250 0 $930.00 Bethlehem Inn 50 0 $700.00 City Center Foursquare 25 0 $700.00 La Pine Community Kitchen 75 0 $830.00 La Pine Senior Center 140 0 $830.00 Redmond Senior Center 100 0 $830.00 Sisters Senior Center 80 0 $830.00 St. Helens Center - Family Kitchen 72 0 $830.00 TOTAL EXEMPT AMOUNT $6,480.00