Ridgecrest Municipal Code § 8-27 Re-score inspection

The purpose of this article is to establish standards for the issuance of a grading score which represents the compliance of food establishments with local ordinances and state law.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.101; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Department shall mean the county environmental health services department.

Food establishment means a food establishment subject to the California Retail Food Code (Health and Safety Code § 113700 et seq.). These are commonly referred to as restaurants, take-out fast food, delis, markets or similar operations.

Health officer means the duly appointed and acting health officer of the county while performing the duties of health officer in the city. The term "health officer" shall include duly authorized assistants, sanitarians, and health inspectors.

Inspection means an evaluation of the food establishment conducted on-site by the department.

Inspection report form means the written report prepared and copy issued to a food establishment provided by the department after conducting any inspection to determine compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of public health.

Inspection summary report means a card that is posted at the conclusion of the inspection which is based on the results from the inspection report form. The inspection summary report will indicate a letter grade or numeric score.

Re-score inspection means an evaluation of the food establishment conducted by the department at the request of the permittee to reassess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.102; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

Any person who violates any provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.108; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

All food establishments shall be inspected and graded uniformly using an inspection report form. The grade of each food establishment shall be determined by the health officer using the scoring method provided on the form. The inspection summary report of each food establishment shall be posted.

(1) The letter "A" shall indicate a final score of 90 percent or higher.

(2) The letter "B" shall indicate a final score of less than 90 percent but not less than 80 percent.

(3) The letter "C" shall indicate a final score of less than 80 percent but not less than 75 percent.

(4) A numeric score shall be indicated for a final score of less than 75 percent. Establishments that score below 75 percent will be required to close immediately and the environmental health permit will be suspended.

(5) The inspection summary report shall be posted at a food establishment by the health officer upon completion of an inspection.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.103; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

(a) The inspection summary report shall be posted at or near each entrance to the food establishment used by its patrons or in a conspicuous place selected by the health officer.

(b) The inspection summary report shall not be defaced, marred, camouflaged, hidden or removed. It shall be unlawful to operate a food establishment unless the inspection summary report is posted.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.104; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

An inspection summary report shall remain valid until the health officer completes the next inspection of the food establishment.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.105; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

If, after completion of an inspection, the permittee disagrees with the inspection findings or the resulting inspection summary report, the permittee may request an appeal.

(1) The permittee shall submit a written request for an appeal on a standardized form as determined by the department within five business days following the inspection.

(2) The appeal shall be heard within three business days following the written appeal request.

(3) The appeal shall be heard by the health officer at which time the appeal shall be considered and a final determination issued within one business day.

(4) The previously issued inspection summary report shall remain posted until final resolution is obtained through the appeal process. After resolution of the appeal process the new inspection summary report shall be posted within one business day.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.106; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

At the discretion of the permittee, a re-score inspection may be requested to reassess compliance.

(1) A re-score inspection must be requested by the permittee on a standardized form as determined by the department within seven days of the original inspection. Only one re-score inspection may be requested within each fiscal year.

(2) The health officer shall conduct a re-score inspection within seven days of receiving the request and submission of the inspection fee by the permittee.

(3) At the conclusion of the re-score inspection, the inspection summary report shall be issued based upon the scoring method set forth in this article.

(4) A requested re-score inspection is separate and independent of all inspections as determined by the health officer.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.107; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)

Removal of the inspection summary report is a violation of this article and may result in the suspension or revocation of the environmental health permit.

(Code 1980, § 4-23.108; Ord. No. 06-19, § 1)