Supervising Code Enforcement Officer

About the role

The City of Novato is seeking an experienced and service-oriented professional to serve as our Supervising Code Enforcement Officer within the Community Development Department. This leadership position offers a unique opportunity to oversee the City's code enforcement program while helping to preserve neighborhood quality, protect public health and safety, and support a vibrant and well-maintained community.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, review, and participate in the work of staff responsible for performing a variety of field and office work in support of the City's code enforcement program;
• Oversee the enforcement of City regulations and ordinances including building and zoning codes;
• Establish schedules and methods for providing code enforcement services;
• Identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; allocate resources accordingly;
• Participate in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; make recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participate in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitor work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures;
• Prepare and recommend revisions to City codes and ordinances;
• Participate in the selection of code enforcement staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures;
• Oversee and participate in receiving and responding to citizen complaints and reports from other agencies and departments on alleged violations of City zoning and related municipal codes;
• Oversee and participate in conducting investigations including to investigate the most difficult and complex complaints of violation of City codes, ordinances, and regulations;
• Conduct interviews with complainant, witnesses, property owners, and potential violators;
• Operate photo, video, and surveillance equipment under various conditions;
• Oversee and participate in inspecting properties for violations;
• Issue and post warning notices, notices of violation, corrective notices, orders to comply, and related documentation for code violations;
• Schedule and perform all follow-up functions to gain compliance including letters, inspections, calls, meetings, discussions, and negotiations to ensure compliance with appropriate codes and ordinances;
• Issue citations as necessary;
• Oversee and participate in the maintenance of accurate documentation and case files on all investigations, inspections, violations, citations, enforcement actions, and other job related activities;
• Prepare abatement cases;
• Oversee and participate in coordinating, referring, consulting, and preparing documentation and evidence in support of legal actions taken by the City;
• Appear in court as necessary; testify at hearings and in court proceedings as required; prepare and present abatement cases to the Housing Appeals Board;
• Oversee the resale inspection program;
• Oversee and participate in resale inspections on residential properties;
• Research old and current permits relating to resale properties;
• Meet and confer with realtors and citizens;
• Inspect homes prior to sale;
• Complete inspection report;
• Notify property owners of required permits, safety hazards, and related items needing correction;
• Inform related professionals on health and safety codes for residential housing;
• Oversee and research properties sold without resale inspection and assess fines on property owners who sell residential property without a resale inspection report;
• Oversee and participate in the abandoned vehicle abatement program;
• Perform field inspections to monitor program;
• Coordinate the removal of vehicles as appropriate;
• Receive and process building permit applications;
• Inspect plans to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances;
• Serve as a resource and coordinate actions with other City departments, divisions, the general public, and outside agencies in the enforcement of zoning regulations;
• Provide information and interpret and explain municipal codes and ordinances to members of the general public, contractors, business owners, and other interested groups in the field, over the counter and on the telephone;
• Organize, prepare, and conduct presentations to various groups including Housing Board, community meetings, and neighborhood groups;
• Respond to questions, complaints, and inquiries;
• Oversee and participate in the preparation of a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence related to enforcement activities;
• Input and retrieve a variety of information using a computer terminal;
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings;
• Maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the field of code enforcement; incorporate new developments as appropriate into programs;
• Perform related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge Of: Operations, services, and activities of a municipal code enforcement program;
• Pertinent codes, ordinances, laws, and regulations pertaining to zoning, building, and related areas;
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation;
• Basic principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration;
• Procedures involved in the enforcement of codes and regulations including methods and techniques of conducting and documenting field investigations;
• Court documents and procedures including procedures for citation issuance and obtaining various types of inspection warrants;
• City services and organizational structure as they relate to code enforcement;
• Effective public relations practices;
• Principles and procedures of record keeping;
• Methods and techniques of business correspondence and technical report preparation;
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications;
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.

• Ability To: Coordinate and direct the City's code enforcement programs;
• Supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned staff involved in code enforcement services and activities;
• Select, train, and evaluate staff;
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing code enforcement services and activities;
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities;
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures;
• Interpret and apply applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations related to zoning, building, and related issues;
• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines;
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit;
• Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies;
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries, complaints, and requests for service from the public, City staff, or other agencies in a timely, fair, tactful, and firm manner.

• Independently perform a full range of municipal code enforcement and compliance duties;
• Inspect and identify violations of applicable codes and ordinances;
• Enforce pertinent codes, ordinances, laws and regulations with impartiality and efficiency;
• Investigate complaints and mediate resolutions in a timely and tactful manner;
• Prepare accurate and detailed documentation of investigation findings.

Benefits

• 9/80 work schedule - every other Friday off
• Up to $3,039.04 contributed by the City towards employee healthcare, depending on enrollment level
• Accrue 80 hours of vacation to start
• Provided with 90 hours of executive leave, with potential for an additional 90
• Provided with 40 hours of sick leave upon hire
• 14 paid holidays per year
• Able to earn comp time off
• Technology and transportation stipend paid monthly
• Up to $2,000 performance bonus, annually
• Deferred compensation match up to $2,000, annually
• Free parking on site
• Office is within walking distance of terrific restaurants, shopping, and the Downtown SMART Station