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If compliance is not achieved, a hearing is scheduled before an independent administrative hearing officer. The hearing is attended by the enforcement officer and the responsible party, and each presents their respective cases to the hearing officer. If the hearing officer rules in favor of the City, he or she issues an administrative order to correct any violations and to pay administrative penalties and costs to the City. Since 1999, the Administrative Code Enforcement Program has enjoyed much success. Voluntary compliance has improved; fewer matters are taken to the criminal courts, and; a greater number of cases are being successfully closed. To ensure the program's continued success, staff felt it appropriate to undertake a comprehensive review of the program. In this regard, the City Attorney's Office has reviewed the Administrative Enforcement Ordinance and Resolution No. 13747, as well as existing forms and procedures. Based on this review, the City Council is asked to introduce and adopt the proposed ordinance and resolution, which are summarized as follows. Administrative Enforcement Ordinance Initially, it should be noted that the operative provisions of the Administrative Enforcement Ordinance will not change with the proposed revisions. Staff will retain the ability to issue administrative citations and orders; responsible parties will have the ability to appeal administrative citations and orders, and; other enforcement tools, including criminal prosecutions, civil injunctions and administrative abatements remain available. The following summarizes the major changes that are proposed to improve the effectiveness of this important enforcement tool. Applicability Currently, administrative citations and orders can only be issued for violations of a limited number of Redwood City Municipal Code chapters. Should a responsible party violate a code section not included on the list, Code Enforcement Officers must rely on other tools to gain compliance. In general, this means that a criminal citation is issued. Code sections not expressly covered by the administrative enforcement program include storm water run -off, business licenses and zoning. The proposed ordinance expands the applicability of the administrative enforcement program to the entire municipal and zoning codes. The expansion of the administrative enforcement program to the entire municipal and zoning codes does not require an enforcement officer to use the program, but gives them the option to use it if they feel that it will assist in their compliance efforts. Responsible Parties At this time, the Municipal Code does not clearly specify who may receive an administrative citation or order. Code enforcement officers are sometimes hindered in their efforts to issue administrative citations to the appropriate responsible party. These difficulties are most noticeable when the violation concerns a business and /or an absentee property owner. If, for instance, an on -site business owner DBB /Reports /Admin 020603