(a) Suspension of permit. The regulatory authority may, without warning, advance notice, or hearing, suspend any permit to operate a food establishment if the operation of the food establishment constitutes an imminent hazard to public health or if any required fee has not been paid by the appropriate deadline. Suspension is effective immediately upon service of the notice required by this section. When a permit is suspended, food operations shall immediately cease. Whenever a permit is suspended, the holder of the permit shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing within 20 days of receipt of a request for a hearing.
(b) Notice. Whenever a permit is suspended, the holder of the permit or the person in charge shall be notified in writing that the permit is, upon service of the notice, immediately suspended and that an opportunity for a hearing will be provided if a written request for a hearing is filed with the regulatory authority by the holder of the permit within ten days. If no written request for hearing is filed within ten days, the suspension is sustained.
(c) Duration. Suspension of a food permit shall continue until the regulatory authority determines, after an inspection, that the reasons for suspension no longer exist or until all required permit fees have been paid, as applicable.
(d) Other remedies reserved. Suspension of a food permit shall not preclude the regulatory authority from taking any other enforcement action authorized by law, including without limitation the revocation of the suspended food permit in accordance with the requirements of Section 46-11 of this Code.
(e) Posting. During the period of any permit suspension under this section, the food service establishment subject to the suspension shall post a sign clearly visible to the public outside of the establishment, which sign shall state, “Closed by the Environmental Health Division of the City of Longview.” The regulatory authority shall have the authority to promulgate reasonable regulations as to the size and location of the sign and the size of the lettering thereon.
(Ord. No. 3051, § 3, 8-9-01)