Code Enforcement Inspector

Code Enforcement Inspector

ABOUT THE CITY: La Habra is located at Orange County's northernmost corner, La Habra today is 7.3 square miles, with a population of nearly 62,000. A quiet bedroom community, it is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountains, and desert recreation areas. The City is known for the Tamale Festival, Corn Festival, Citrus Fair, the Children's Museum, and Depot Theatre.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: Community Development is structured to coordinate and provide technical assistance on issues of current and future land development to the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Committee, Economic Development Ad-Hoc Committee, Beautification Committee, various boards and to the public. It is the department's mission to provide this assistance in a highly professional and customer service-oriented manner. The City's Code Enforcement Division provides service to the 60,000 plus residents of this community, along with our local business partners as it relates to the maintenance and use of the residential, commercial, and industrial properties within the City's seven square mile geographic limits. The vast majority of issues that Code Enforcement investigates are the result of complaints received from concerned citizens along with proactive work done by the inspectors aimed at maintaining the aesthetics and value of property within the City. Some of the most common concerns the Division handles are: lack of landscaping maintenance, deteriorated property conditions, inoperable vehicles stored in public view, structures built without permits, signage, zoning and land use matters, graffiti on private property, and trash container storage. Code Enforcement staff works to educate our citizens in the hopes of achieving voluntary compliance and is able to resolve most concerns by working together with our community partners. The Division also works closely with the City Attorney's Office on more serious property maintenance matters that were not successfully resolved at the administrative level.

ABOUT THE POSITION: Under general supervision of the Code Enforcement Manager, the Code Enforcement Inspector enforces municipal, state and federal laws and regulations as they relate to municipal land use, zoning, property maintenance, housing, abatement, national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES), and building and safety; inspects local businesses for conformance with business license regulations, fats, oils and grease, illicit discharges; audits and analyzes sales tax information; provides information and general assistance to homeowners, tenants and the public; and performs other related work as required.

Examples of Duties

(Duties may include, but are not limited to the following):

• Performs residential, commercial, and industrial property investigations regarding municipal code violations, and initiates action(s) to facilitate compliance with applicable code requirements while encouraging voluntary compliance.
• Provides information and general assistance to property and business owners.
• Conducts inspections at a variety of facilities and locations, performs field enforcement of the municipal code and policies by receiving and investigating complaints, canvassing for visible zoning violations (including but not limited to sign and home occupation regulations), complaints of prohibited discharges to include sewage spill incidents, inform individuals of zoning and building and safety code provisions.
• Issues and prepares a variety of written correspondence, reports and memorandums pertaining to code enforcement and other related activities including Courtesy Notices, Notice of Violations and Administrative Citations.
• Prepares written reports and memorandums, takes photographs, and assists the City Prosecutor in processing criminal complaints, obtaining inspection and abatement warrants and preparing civil actions.
• Attends office conferences and public nuisance hearings; May testify in court and before City Council and commissions.
• Performs research relating to municipal code enforcement policies and procedures.
• Assist City staff on inquiries of business who may be operating without a valid business license.
• Maintains various logs, records of complaints, inspections, written records of investigations and actions taken, violation notices, follow up reminders, and other field enforcement activities.
• Receives, evaluates, and responds to citizen complaints and requests for service including assisting other City departments.
• Performs yard sale enforcement on weekends.
• Conducts noise measurements in the field using a noise dosimeter.
• Removes illegally posted signs.
• Attends training classes and meetings as required.
• Conducts inspections related to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFYING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of:

• Zoning, land use, building and safety codes, and regulations enforceable by the City.
• Collection and elementary bookkeeping practices.
• Safe work practices and procedures.
• Effective customer service techniques.

Skills and Ability to:

• Read and interpret applicable codes and regulations.
• Ability to understand and apply Federal, State, and local codes and regulations pertaining to code enforcement and NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System).
• Identify hazardous situations and take appropriate corrective action.
• Maintain and follow department processes and regulations.
• Communicate effectively and tactfully in oral and written form.
• Utilize appropriate interpersonal skills when interacting with diverse communities or confrontational individuals.
• Conduct field inspections and document observations made in the field.
• Organize assignments and work independently.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting software applications.
• Prepare clear, concise and grammatically correct records, correspondence and reports.
• Calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, size and volume.
• Establish effective working relationships with residents, business owners, supervisors, peers, subordinates, contractors, City staff and the public.
• Work weekends, holidays, and evenings as necessary.
• Communicate effectively to internal and external customers.
• Provide customer service in a professional manner.

Supplemental Information

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: The ideal applicant will possess the following characteristics: High School diploma or equivalent; A.A./A.S. from a two-year college or technical school; or two years of related municipal code enforcement experience. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college is desirable. Ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish language is desirable. Must be able to work all shifts. May be required to work weekends, evenings, and holidays, as well as in inclement weather.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS: Must possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver's License. Must have or obtain within six months of employment, a P.O.S.T. 832 P.C. Certificate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Sufficient physical ability to work in an office and field setting and operate office equipment; frequent walk, stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds; kneeling, repeated bending; operating motorized equipment and vehicles; work in a stressful environment; and deal safely and effectively with hostile people. Incumbent must have the stamina to work long hours and overtime, if assigned, and must be willing to work an irregular schedule, which may include weekends, holidays, evenings, and/or varying shifts. Vision : See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled repetitive movements including typing. Hearing : Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction at normal conversational levels in person and over the telephone. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Office and field environment; incumbents work in the field and are exposed to inclement weather. Depending upon the nature of a code violation, incumbents may be exposed to unpleasant odors, unacceptable sanitary conditions, unsafe dwellings and aggressive animals. SPECIAL CONDITIONS PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISASTER SERVICE WORKER: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage. Completed applications and resume will be accepted until posting closes. Applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited for an oral interview. Candidates must successfully pass the oral interview in order to be placed on the eligibility list. The final candidate must successfully complete a medical exam, drug screening