San Marcos Seeks Input From Food Establishments, To Share How New Code Will Affect Their Businesses?

San Marcos started notifying local food establishments last fall that they were not in compliance with Texas’ newest rules and statutes that were implemented in by the state in November 2015.

The City of San Marcos will be hosting a slate of community open houses discussing the city’s changes to the local food health code.

According to a recent city press release, “the purpose of these meetings is to gather input from stakeholders and the community,” and they will “provide a comprehensive look into how the code update will affect businesses and overall community safety.”

San Marcos started notifying local food establishments last fall that they were not in compliance with Texas’ newest rules and statutes that were implemented by the state in November 2015.

For the last two years, San Marcos’ Food permitting process had continued to use the state regulations approved in 2006. However, in a notice from December regarding the meetings, the city stated the staff’s goal was to stay current with state regulations.

In October 2017, the Charles S. Cock House went to reapply for their yearly Food Permit for their Friday Cottage Kitchen; they were informed they were not in compliance with current food regulations and would have to make some changes to their weekly Friday lunches. Read more HERE.

“For over 40 years, the Charles S. Cock House has been the home of the Friday Cottage Kitchen luncheons providing a community gathering spot in a historic house,” said Marianne Moore, 2018 Head of the Guild of the Heritage Association of San Marcos.

“The cottage kitchen had to re-evaluate its food serving practices and communicate with our Friday lunch hosts in an effort to come into compliance with the new food codes,” continued Moore. “We have never had a food complaint to the city about our food, and we are thankful for that. We appreciate the good reputation that we enjoy amongst the community.”

Read a letter from the Cottage Kitchen to their lunch partners, groups and organizations.

The Cottage Kitchen has worked with the city to come into compliance and are still serving their historic Friday lunches, but not without losing a couple local groups who were scheduled to host lunches.

Recently, the CTMC Women’s Council, a local philanthropic group, and Leadership San Marcos informed the Cottage Kitchen their need to cancel their cooking of lunches due to the city’s new food ordinances.

According to another local source, two churches have had the city shut down their annual chili cook-offs and potlucks. One church nearly had to pull out from sponsoring Sights & Sounds because the city barred them from selling food at the festival.

The Hitch, San Marcos’s mobile food court off of Hopkins and CM Allen, has closed down due to food permitting conflicts. Community Impact reported food truck vendors received conflicting information from city staff regarding the requirements to renew their food permits. Several vendors stated they were moving their mobile establishments out of the city’s limits.

City staff has invited local vendors to the community update meetings this week and is requesting vendor input regarding new city ordinances.

The City of San Marcos Open House meetings will be held in Room 3 of the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins.

• Wednesday, Feb. 7

• 9 a.m. (Mobile Food Establishments & Food Truck Parks)

• 2 p.m. (Fixed Food Establishments)

• Thursday, Feb. 8

• 9 a.m. (Fixed Food Establishments & Custodial Inspections)

• 2 p.m. (Mobile Food Establishments & Food Truck Parks)

• 5:30 p.m. (Public meeting – updates to City Ordinance & Temporary Food Establishments)

According to a recent city press release;

The purpose of these meetings is to gather input from stakeholders and the community regarding the upcoming update to Chapter 18 of City Ordinance pertaining to Food Establishments.

Open House presentations will focus on specific types of establishments and provide a comprehensive look into how the code update will affect businesses and overall community safety.

Owners of the approximately 400 food establishments currently permitted with the city are invited to take part in the meetings and will receive email and regular mail notice detailing specific presentations pertaining to their respective type of establishment. All meetings will be open to the public.

For more information, contact City of San Marcos Code Compliance-Environmental Health Division, at healthinfo@sanmarcostx.gov, 512.393.8440, or visit their office in the former permit center behind the Municipal Building at 630 East Hopkins, San Marcos, Texas 78666.