LA County Board

17. Strengthening Support, Resources, and Services for Restaurants in Los Angeles County Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Horvath: Direct the Director of Public Health to report back to the Board in writing in 30 days on their implementation plans for AB 671 and AB 592. Specifically, the report back should include: Current process for reviewing and approving restaurant plans, including how new legislative timelines will be met; Capacity and operational/financial impacts associated with implementing these policy changes; Identification of any gaps, challenges, and needed resources to support implementation; and Any policy, programmatic, or system recommendations to ensure the successful implementation of AB 671 and AB 592. Direct the Director of Public Works to report back to the Board in writing in 30 days on their implementation plans for AB 671. Specifically, the report back should include: Current process for reviewing and approving restaurant plans, including how new legislative timelines will be met; Capacity and operational/financial impacts associated with implementing these policy changes; Identification of any gaps, challenges, and needed resources to support implementation; and Any policy, programmatic, or system recommendations to ensure successful implementation of AB 671. Direct the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Director of Economic Opportunity, and any other relevant County Departments and stakeholders to: Within 120 days, update Department of Public Health website(s), checklists, and toolkits utilized by restaurants during the permitting and plan check process to reflect best practices in other environmental health jurisdictions and create more user-friendly tools to promote the submittal of more accurate, complete, and compliant plans to the Department of Public Health - Environmental Health (DPH-EH) plan check process. After completion of the work outlined in Directive 3(a), provide a written report back to the Board within 15 days outlining the changes. Within 90 days of updating communication methods, conduct outreach and education to widely promote materials developed in directive 3(a) to target business associations including, but not limited to, Chambers of Commerce, California Restaurant Association, Independent Hospitality Coalition, Food Safety Advisory Council and restaurants. Direct the Director of Public Health to report back in writing in 60 days on ways to enhance or expand its existing program that provides tailored consultations for restaurant operators prior to the submission of plans for Environmental Health plan check review and approval. Public Health should obtain stakeholder feedback in developing this report back and include information on: How many restaurants could be served by the current program, or an expended program; The scope of providing one-on-one virtual or in-person guidance and support, including when the support would be provided (e.g. before the first plan check submittal); Existing information and services available to support restaurants with permitting and plan submissions via phone, online, and in-person during office hours at various locations across the County; The resources needed to expand the program, including additional costs to applicants served; staffing requirements, and any other operational costs; A proposed timeline for expansion implementation; Metrics to evaluate the program, including feedback from stakeholders; and Appropriate language accessibility for applicants. (26-3774) Motion by Supervisor Horvath (Updates Following Cluster)