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Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Amending Various Provisions, Including: (1) Section 2-17 of Chapter II (Administration); (2) Section 1-7 of Chapter I (General); (3) Section 2-44.1 of Chapter II; (4) Section 1-5 (Penalty Provisions; Enforcement) of Chapter I (General); (5) Section 30-23 (Certificate of Occupancy) of Chapter XXX (Development Regulations); and (6) Other Related Amendments Concerning Code Enforcement. (Community Development - Building 209)
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To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Amy Wooldridge, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is recommending that the City Council consider various changes to the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) related to Building, Fire, and Code Enforcement. The proposed municipal code amendments relate to several areas, and may entail others if the Council so chooses.
First, in January 2018, the First Appellate District of the California Court of Appeals ruled that cities must provide a local appeals board, not a single hearing officer, to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, and determinations made by the Building Official regarding the application and interpretation of the California Building Code. Accordingly, in an abundance of caution only, staff is proposing a change to the makeup of the appeals board charged with hearing appeals related to building code and other violations to a 3-member commission comprised of the three (3) Historical Advisory Board (HAB) members who are qualified by experience and training to consider matters pertaining to building construction and other areas.
Second, for all municipal code violations, staff is proposing amendments to Section 1-7 of the AMC related to the hearing process for the appeal of administrative citations.
Third, the AMC currently provides for the appointment of a Chief Building Inspector to enforce all building laws and ordinances in the City of Alameda (City). The term "Chief Building Inspecto...
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