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City of Bakersfield, CA

Chief Code Enforcement Officer

City of Bakersfield, CA, Bakersfield, California, United States, 93399


Class Summary

Under general direction of the Assistant Building Director, as a Code Enforcement Officer wearing a badge, performs work as a first-line supervisor requiring specialized skills to secure compliance with zoning regulations and the Municipal Building Codes (including the Uniform Housing code, Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, and Property Maintenance Codes). Work involves supervision and training of subordinates; establishing rapport with other agencies, City departments, etc.; assisting in the development of policies and procedures; and recommending revisions to ordinances and codes. Employees in this class intervene in the more difficult and complex conservation issues and exercise discretionary authority to bring matters to resolution. Incumbents have citation authority as well. Performs other work as required.

Representative Duties

The following typical tasks and responsibilities are representative of all positions in the class. They are descriptive, not limiting.

Essential Duties: As a Code Enforcement Officer wearing a badge, supervises the Code Enforcement Section; schedules and assigns conservation cases to Code Enforcement staff; supervises the investigation of complaints, preparation and processing of appropriate corrective orders and acts to gain compliance to zoning, housing, and Municipal Code violations; ensures that all cases are completed with proper documentation and follow-up; evaluates employee performance and administers progressive discipline; assists in the development and presentation of training programs; recommends revisions to ordinances and codes; assists in the development of policies and procedures; analyzes complex conservation problems and recommends effective solutions; interacts with the public in potentially volatile situations; resolves disputes regarding conservation matters in a tactful and productive manner; assists in the preparation and administration of the division budget; and utilizes a personal or mainframe computer.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Public administration principles and methods including goal setting, policy and procedure development and implementation; employee supervision including work scheduling, selection, training, evaluation, and discipline; budget development and administration; Uniform Housing Code, Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, and Bakersfield Municipal Code pertaining to code enforcement; State Health and Safety Codes; laws and ordinances regulating building construction and zoning; legal documents and affidavits, police reports, inspection and abatement warrants, and dangerous building orders; legal and courtroom procedures; right-of-entry; due process; collection and analyses of evidence; equipment and procedures used to research ownership of properties being investigated; State and local enactments governing building construction, use, and occupancy; personal computer applications related to work.

Ability to:

Supervise the Code enforcement Section; plan, organize, coordinate, supervise, assign, review, and evaluate work; train Code Enforcement staff; analyze complex conservation problems and recommend effective solutions; intervene in the more difficult and complex conservation cases; assist in the development of policies, procedures, and training; assist in the preparation and administration of division budget; interpret regulations with firmness, tact, and impartiality; recognize a dangerous situation and react accordingly; handle volatile conservation issues with a potentially irate public in a tactful manner and reach equitable solutions; deal with confrontational situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, architects, property owners, other agencies, public calling in complaints, and people believed to be in violation of various codes; properly document conservation cases; conduct meetings including preparing and presenting appropriate information; present evidence in legal proceedings. Handle routine residential and minor building inspection and plan checking; read and interpret plans and specifications, issue correction notices, prepare reports, establish and maintain effective contacts with building owners, contractors, and the public; make inspections and enforce regulations; detect substandard materials and workmanship; deal tactfully and effectively with builders, contractors, and the general public.

Training and Experience:

Graduation from and accredited high school or GED, successful completion of an acceptable course in building codes AND six years of experience in code enforcement, building construction (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, or mechanical) at the journey-level, inspection, architecture, design, plan permitting, or related field including at least two years as a Building Inspector II, Building Inspector II, or a Code Enforcement Officer II AND at least one year experience supervising conservation staff. College coursework in Architecture, Engineering, or related field may substitute for the general experience on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of two years.

Licenses, Certificates, and Special Requirements:

Possession of a valid California Class "C" Driver's License. (Employees will be required to operate City vehicles on a daily basis.) An approved code enforcement seminar may be required within the first year of employment. In addition, incumbents may be required to successfully complete training in police procedure including issuance of citations, attend a police academy, and pass a psychological examination.

Physical Conditions or Special Working Conditions:

Incumbents will be required to make on-site inspections and investigations in the field. This position emphasizes communications skills as contacts may involve volatile situations.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Chief Code Enforcement Officer is differentiated from Code Enforcement Officer II in that the prior supervises Code Enforcement staff including Code Enforcement Officer II, intervenes in the more difficult and complex cases, exercises discretionary authority to resolve issues and assists in developing policies, procedures, and training. Chief Code Enforcement Officers must be skilled at working with people to solve problems.

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