Health Board Decides To Swallow New Rules For Outdoor Vendors Tougher Regulations Criticized As Too Strict

Faced with protests from dozens of local food vendors, the Spokane Regional Health Board decided Thursday to temporarily waive tougher vendor health standards adopted last year.

Pressed against the walls of an overcrowded conference room, more than 30 vendors complained that new health codes regulating food and drink stands at outdoor events are too strict.

“We’ve already lost about five vendors from Pig Out in the Park because they’ve just thrown up their hands,” said Bill Burke, organizer of Riverfront Park’s annual fall foodfest.

“It’s really difficult for some vendors.”

Under the new standards, Lisa Bonnett, who owns Coffee Capers, has to add a three-sink basin and spend $3,000 on improvements to her espresso trailer, which she only uses once a year at the county fair.

“I think that’s a little overboard,” she told the board. “I’m not sure you realize the time involved getting our trailer in compliance.”

Dolly Hughes, representing Spokane Interstate Fair, said the rules are making it tough to attract vendors.

The vendors need “more time for compliance and a realistic set of rules,” she said.

Board members were hesitant to relax the rules, but vendors continued to press them with sporadic emotional outbursts.

After an hour of noisy debate, board member Roberta Greene, who sits on the Spokane City Council, threw up her hands.

“Where’s John Roskelley?” she asked. Roskelley, a county commissioner, usually chairs the meetings. Greene was substituting for him.

Moments later, the board voted unanimously to waive the tougher rules pending a more formal review of the issue.

A health district team will be visiting the fairgrounds today and Saturday to grant variances to food vendors who want to participate in the upcoming fair.

The waivers don’t affect the fees vendors pay to participate in outdoor events.

Vendors must still demonstrate that their food preparation is safe.

, DataTimes