Code Enforcement Officer

City of Shoreline; Shoreline (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Shoreline is seeking an experienced Code Enforcement and Customer Response Team member to manage violation cases and enforce city codes. You will work with the City Attorney's Office and other departments to educate communities and achieve timely compliance.

Responsibilities include investigations, notices, abatement planning, and coordinating Tenant Relocation Assistance programs, with a focus on fair treatment and effective code enforcement across land use, zoning, and building

Qualifications

• Experience handling code enforcement cases and violations.
• Ability to gather evidence and conduct site inspections.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate with the City Attorney's Office and other departments.
• Knowledge of land use, zoning, building codes, nuisances.

Responsibilities

• Initiate or respond to complaints about city code violations.
• Gather evidence through field investigations and photography.
• Issue Notices of Violations and Orders to Correct.
• Meet with developers, businesses, residents and stakeholders to explain codes.
• Assist City Attorney's Office in civil prosecution and provide testimony.
• Administer abatement program for private property, including contracts and scheduling.
• Prepare detailed reports and maintain enforcement files.
• Develop and update code enforcement programs and procedures; advise on ordinances.
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure consistent enforcement; provide public presentations.
• Manage Tenant Relocation Program with City Attorney's Office.
• Post condemnation placards on private property when required.

Skills

Code enforcement

Investigations

Documentation

Public communication

Interagency coordination

Job description

Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity.

The City of Shoreline is seeking an excellent candidate to serve in the Code Enforcement and Customer Response Team to perform violation case management, code enforcement, and violation abatement for the City. This position works closely with other members of the Code Enforcement and Customer Response Team, the City Attorney's Office and other City departments to coordinate code enforcement activities. This position has extensive interactions with community members, developers, business owners, and other City, State and Federal agencies. Candidates should possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to coordinate and manage cases while continuing to improve processes and respect timelines. The ideal candidate will exhibit grit, poise and calm demeanor while resolving difficult situations.

DEFINITION

Responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the City's comprehensive code enforcement compliance program. Interacts with City business and residential communities to educate, interpret and achieve compliance with City codes. Under general supervision, receives, investigates, researches and resolves complaints, violations, questions and issues concerning a variety of City codes pertaining to land use, zoning, building construction, fire, surface water, wastewater, right of way and nuisances. Develops code compliance strategies and policies and executes the Tenant Relocation Assistance program and the City's abatement process. Works effectively and coordinates code enforcement activities with other City departments and with appropriate City, State and Federal agencies.

Essential Functions:

• Initiate or respond to complaints pertaining to City code violations and receive, record, investigate, research, track, monitor and resolve complaints, violations, questions and issues concerning nuisances, land use, zoning, right of way, and building construction codes enforced by the City.
• Gather evidence for enforcement action by conducting field investigations and site inspections, obtaining photographic documentation and researching City and County records.
• Issue Notices of Violations and Orders to Correct and civil infractions.
• Meet with developers, business owners, residents and other stakeholders to understand and explain issues, codes and code enforcement procedures.
• Provide direct assistance to the City Attorney's Office related to civil prosecution of code enforcement cases by appearing as a witness before the Hearing Examiner and in legal actions in court and providing documented evidence.
• Administer all aspects of the City's abatement program for the legal removal of violations on private property, including scope of work and abatement contract development, vendor identification, police participation coordination, contractor scheduling and oversight to ensure abatements are completed in a timely and safe manner, and bill and document preparation for assessment of tax lien.
• Assist in resolving code enforcement violations during permit application and project review process to gain compliance or imposing necessary penalties.
• Develop, organize, implement and update code enforcement programs and procedures, including programs and procedures which enhance the City's enforcement capabilities and amendments to City codes or regulations; advise City departments on specific ordinances and enforcement issues.
• Coordinate efforts with other departments to ensure appropriate action and uniformity of interpretation, application and enforcement of regulations and codes.
• Prepare and give public presentations regarding code enforcement and program administration.
• Attempt to resolve complaints through mediation or enforcement and meet with affected parties to evaluate proposals to achieve compliance, develop voluntary compliance agreements and assist with successful implementation of compliance agreements.
• Collect, select, classify, and compile data from several sources to prepare summary reports as required. May involve statistical calculations and tabulations in accordance with established formulae, equations, and technical data, or analysis and interpretation of data.
• Prepare detailed written reports and records, maintain enforcement files and computer database of violation cases, track enforcement penalty fines and fees, and maintain follow-up system on matters requiring action on a periodic basis.
• Participate in the development of recommendations for the revision of City policies and legislation governing issues related to assigned area of responsibility.
• Attend and participate in meetings and trainings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of code enforcement.
• With assistance from the City Attorney's Office, manage, implement and execute all aspects of the Tenant Relocation Program, including substantiating that the violations create sub-standard housing conditions, evaluating tenant eligibility, establishing relocation amounts in conformance with state and local codes, submitting check requests and managing disbursement and coordinating with property owners.
• With assistance from the City Attorney's Office, create documents, forms, notices and methods of issuing emergency orders that will withstand legal challenge in court.
• Evaluate conditions and post condemnation placards on private property.