Body of News Release
UPDATE FOR AUGUST 19: The Board conducted the public hearing and provided feedback to staff.
Marin County, CA – Whether you're grabbing french fries from a food truck, picking up takeout, or dining at your favorite local spot, one thing matters to everyone: The food should be safe to eat. That’s where Marin County’s Environmental Health Services (EHS) steps in — working behind the scenes to help make sure the food you enjoy doesn’t make you sick.
On Tuesday, August 19, the Marin County Board of Supervisors will host a public hearing to pull back the curtain on how food vendors — restaurants, markets, and mobile food sellers — get permitted and inspected. The session will highlight what EHS does, not just to protect public health but to support food businesses in staying open and successful. It’s a chance for people to share ideas about opportunities for EHS to make the permit process easier for food businesses.
The August 19 workshop is just the first step. A follow-up community event is planned for October 10 at the San Rafael Community Center, where residents, food entrepreneurs, and anyone interested can share ideas about how to make the food permitting process smoother, more collaborative, and better understood by everyone involved.
“There’s no community vitality without great food,” said Sarah Jones, Director of the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA), which oversees EHS. “We want to walk people through our role in helping food businesses thrive, explain why it matters, and hear directly from both customers and business owners. If there are parts of the system that aren’t working well, we want to fix them. In the end, we want to make it easier for Marin’s food businesses to keep serving and selling delicious, healthy food.”
The County’s EHS team plays a vital role in ensuring that food vendors meet health standards before serving the public. They also jump into action quickly if there's a foodborne illness outbreak — working with the County’s Public Health Division to keep people informed and safe.
“Our passion is public health, and the vendor’s passion is food,” said EHS Consumer Protection Supervisor Shannon Bell. “We understand that opening a food business is a dream for many. We’re here to help them succeed. That success depends on keeping food safe. It benefits the whole community.”
EHS staff prefer education over enforcement, and they want to help businesses get it right from the start without fines, lost food, or missed opportunities.
The August 19 presentation will be held in Suite 330 at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. Everyone is welcome, and public feedback is encouraged. More information will be included on the Board’s meeting agenda, which will be released online on the afternoon of August 14. Details on how to participate in Board of Supervisors meetings can be found on the County of Marin website.