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ABQ City Council adopts new "microbusiness" definition in food service permit fee bill
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Albuquerque city councilors voted 7-1 on Monday to approve a bill with new guidelines for permitting fees for mobile operators and nonprofits that serve food.
The bill, sponsored by Councilor Dan Champine, includes an amendment for what is considered a microbusiness, setting a maximum of seven full- or part-time employees with no intention to hire more.
Samantha Sengel, the city’s chief administrative officer, said the city agreed with the amendment that Champine put forth to define a microbusiness in the bill.
The vote comes after pushback from operators of mobile food units, or food trucks, in August after inspection fees jumped to $900 from $120. A spokesperson for the city told the Journal on Monday mobile food operators that paid the $900 fee have been reimbursed.
Councilors voted unanimously in September against increasing the fees.
While counted as approving the bill, Councilor Joaquín Baca was not on the dais when either vote was taken and not counted on the amendment vote, which passed 6-1.
Councilor Louie Sanchez was the lone “no” vote on both. The councilor’s policy analyst did not respond immediately to a question about why Sanchez voted against the bill.
