This article discusses the difficulties mobile food vendors in Snohomish County are experiencing due to prolonged delays in securing annual permits from the county Health Department. A staffing shortage within the food safety program has led to backlogs, forcing vendors to pay substantial temporary permit fees to remain operational. County Council member Jared Mead is advocating for a policy change that would allow vendors to receive credits for these temporary fees against their annual permit costs, providing much-needed relief to struggling small businesses. Melinda Grenier, owner of Hay Girl Coffee, exemplifies these challenges, having incurred over $1,000 in temporary fees while waiting for her permit approval, only to ultimately face denial. The Health Department acknowledges the issue and aims to improve processing times.

Mead's proposed policy is set to be discussed by the Board of Health, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these operational challenges and their broader implications for local economies and the livelihoods of small business owners.