Mayor Walsh is asking the City Council to approve a city ordinance that would require Boston restaurants and food trucks to prominently place a sign with a letter grade corresponding to the results of their most recent health inspections.

The measure, long in use in other cities, would make it easier for prospective diners to gauge the cleanliness of the establishments than the current method - which requires them to call up a city Web site and search for the particular restaurant or food truck.

The council considers the idea at its regular Wednesday meeting this week - at which it will likely send the proposal to a committee for a hearing and study before taking action.

Under the proposal, restaurants and food trucks would have up to a year before they have to post their grade - although the grades would be listed on the city site After that, they'd face fines of $300 a day for not posting their grade.