To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Grant Award #78-050-1 from the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to accept Grant Award #78-050-1 from the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health, to pay the County an amount not to exceed $110,722, for the Micro Enterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) Assistance Program, for the period from June 30, 2024 through May 31, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this application could result in an amount not to exceed $110,722 from the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health. No county match required.
BACKGROUND:
Assembly Bill (AB) 626, enacted in 2019, amended the California Health and Safety Code to create a MEHKOs, as a new type of retail food facility that allows an individual to operate a restaurant within their private residence. Since the state established MEHKOs in 2019, ten counties have authorized MEHKOs. In addition, three counties have temporarily authorized MEHKO pilot programs. Combined, there are nearly 400 permitted MEHKOs across the state as of March 2024.
On October 24, 2023, the Board of Supervisors directed the Health Services Departments’ Environmental Health Division (EHD) to draft an ordinance for temporary authorization of MEHKOs in Contra Costa County. This program will provide financial assistance to EHD activities related to development, outreach, and enforcement of MEHKOs.
On December 12, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved submission of grant application to the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health for the MENKO Assistance Program for an award amount up to $2,612,000.
Approval of Grant Award #78-050-1 will allow county to accept funds for the MEHKO Assistance Program to be distributed on May 31, 2025.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this grant award is not approved, the county will not receive funds to assist with costs incurred from activities related to MEHKOS provided by the County’s EHD staff.