PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:  Monday, March 7, 2011

Contact: Gloria Chan, 415-554-6926

PUBLIC WORKS LAUNCHES MOBILE FOOD FACILITIES PROGRAM

-City begins accepting applications under new streamlined process

San Francisco, CA— The Department of Public Works announces the launch of its Mobile Food Facilities Program today. The program began accepting applications for people who are interested in becoming a mobile food vendor/operator on the public right of way in San Francisco.



The new application procedure comes after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed legislation to streamline the process to obtain a permit and become a mobile food vendor. Over the  past two months, DPW worked closely with stakeholders and interested vendors to develop new guidelines for this new process; which makes it easier and less costly. The new guidelines include information that clarifies operating procedures and outlines the requirement for mobile food vendors.



Under the application procedure, applicants have the option to obtain all required permits including those from the Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Fire Department through DPW or through individual agencies. DPW will accept applications with the following requirements:

• Two (2) photographs of the permit applicant(s) (i.e. passport size)
• Site plan showing where the pushcart on the sidewalk and food truck in the parking strip with distance dimensions.  See Sample Drawing.  Drawings do not have to be Auto Cad or to scale, but must be with a ruler and legible. 
•  Submit a complete 300-foot radius notification package with radius map, mailing list with labels and postage.
• A sample menu or itemized list

DPW’s Bureau of Street Use and Mapping can take up to twenty appointments a day to help applicants with the review and application process. Appointments are provided on a first come first serve basis. Around 35 permits were received today from people who spent the weekend waiting in line to obtain the appointments. The entire process which includes the submission of a completed application, notification of businesses within 300 feet radius, and approvals from city agencies could take approximately 90 days, if there are no requests for a public hearing.

DPW also hosted a workshop where more than 120 people attended to learn more about the guidelines and application process. The workshop included a review of the new guidelines and the application process. Representatives with the Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Fire Department were also on hand to answer questions and discuss standard operating procedures and other requirements.

For more information about the Mobile Food Facility Program, please visit the web site of the Department of Public Works atwww.sfdpw.org

DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services.