(A) 
As an alternative to other available enforcement and adjudication processes, an administrative adjudication procedure is hereby adopted to provide for administrative adjudication hearings under which an administrative penalty may be imposed for the enforcement of an ordinance:
(1) 
Described by section 54.032 of the Texas Local Government Code (relating to building safety, fire safety, dangerously damaged or deteriorated buildings, conditions caused by the accumulation of refuse, vegetation or other matter that creates breeding and living places for insects and rodents, and building codes, conditions, uses, and appearance);
(2) 
Adopted under section 214.001(a)(1) of the Texas Local Government Code (relating to a building that is dilapidated, substandard or unfit for human habitation and a hazard to the public health, safety, and welfare);
(3) 
Adopted under subchapter E of chapter 683 of the Texas Transportation Code (relating to junk vehicles);
(4) 
Or as otherwise provided by state law.
(B) 
A proceeding brought under the provisions of this article may, at the option of the person charged with a violation, be converted into a criminal proceeding to be processed as any other criminal violation in the Municipal Court. A proceeding may not be converted into a criminal proceeding under this section if the person charged with a violation:
(1) 
Is a corporation, partnership, or is otherwise not a natural person;
(2) 
Is a nonresident of this state; or
(3) 
Has been previously convicted in a criminal proceeding for violating the same provision of this Code that is charged in the current administrative proceeding. For the purpose of this subsection, a conviction includes an adjudication of guilt or an order of deferred adjudication, whether or not the imposition of the sentence is subsequently dismissed or probated.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06; Ordinance 6097, sec. 1, adopted 2/20/07)
A violation of an ordinance enforced under this article is an administrative violation. Nothing contained in this article shall preclude the City from enforcing a violation of the above-described or referenced ordinances through criminal penalties or other available legal remedies, but the City shall not impose both a civil penalty pursuant to this article and a criminal penalty for the same occurrence.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06)
(A) 
Requirements.
A notice of violation issued under this article must:
(1) 
Include the nature, date, and location of the violation alleged;
(2) 
Notify the person charged with violating an ordinance of the amount of the civil penalty to be imposed for the violation;
(3) 
Provide instructions and the due date for paying the civil penalty;
(4) 
Provide information that informs the person named in the notice of violation:
(a) 
Of the person’s right to contest the imposition of the civil penalty against the person in an administrative adjudication hearing;
(b) 
Of the manner and time in which imposition of the civil penalty may be contested;
(c) 
That failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability in a timely manner is an admission of liability and that failure to appear at an administrative adjudication hearing (including any instanter hearing, continuance or rescheduling of a hearing) after having requested a hearing is an admission of liability;
(d) 
That failure to pay the civil penalty within the time allowed shall result in the imposition of a late-payment fee in the amount designated in the Master Fee and Rate Schedule, Article VII, Section 10.85, of Chapter 10.
(5) 
Notify the person charged of the person’s option (subject to section 24.20(B)) to convert the proceeding from a civil, administrative charge into a criminal proceeding in Municipal Court;
(6) 
Contain a return of service signed by the inspector indicating how the administrative citation was served on the person charged.
(B) 
Charging instrument.
The notice of violation issued under this article serves as the summons and charging instrument for purposes of this article.
(C) 
Retention.
A copy of any notice of violation issued under this article shall be kept as a record in the ordinary course of business of the City by the Clerk of the Municipal Court.
(D) 
Admissibility of notice.
A notice of violation kept as a record under subsection (C) of this section shall be admissible as evidence of the facts it states, but it shall not, in and of itself, constitute a prima facie case of the violation alleged.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06; Ordinance 6097, secs. 2, 3, adopted 2/20/07; Ordinance 7363 adopted 9/6/2022)
A notice of violation issued under this article shall be in writing and may be served personally upon the person charged; by certified mail, return receipt requested; or by First Class Mail. A notice of violation that is mailed shall be mailed to the last known address of the person charged. A notice of violation issued under this article is presumed to have been received on the fifth day after the date the notice of violation is mailed unless the notice is returned to the City for reasons other than nonacceptance or refusal of acceptance.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06)
Other than hearings for parking violations, a hearing date scheduled under this article shall be at least fifteen (15) calendar days following the date of personal service of the notice of violation, or the mailing of the notice of violation.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06)
The presiding judge of the Municipal Court shall appoint a hearing officer who shall conduct all hearings under this article. A hearing officer shall have the following powers, duties and functions:
(1) 
To hear argument and determine liability in administrative adjudication hearings under this article;
(2) 
To rule on motions;
(3) 
To administer oaths;
(4) 
To issue orders compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, which order may be enforced by a Municipal Court;
(5) 
To question witnesses and examine evidence offered;
(6) 
To assess administrative penalties, fees and costs of court in accordance with this article;
(7) 
Any other power necessary to carry out the express powers of this section or as may otherwise be assigned to the hearing officer by this Code or other law.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06; Ordinance 6097, sec. 4, adopted 2/20/07; Ordinance 6534, sec. 9, adopted 4/3/12)
(A) 
Hearing officer.
Every hearing for the adjudication of an administrative notice of violation under this article shall be held before a hearing officer.
(B) 
Standard of proof.
In an administrative adjudication under this article, the alleged violation must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
(C) 
Proof of facts.
In an administrative adjudication under this article, a violation may not be proven merely by the allegations contained in the notice of violation alone.
(D) 
Rules of evidence inapplicable; admissibility.
The formal rules of evidence and procedure do not apply to a hearing under this article, and relevant evidence will be admitted if the hearing officer finds that evidence is of that quality which reasonable persons are accustomed to rely on in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule to the contrary.
(E) 
Right to call and examine witnesses.
Each party shall have the right to call and examine witnesses; to introduce exhibits; to cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues; and to rebut the opposing party’s evidence.
(F) 
Examination of witness by hearing officer.
The hearing officer may examine any witness and may consider any evidence offered by a witness or person charged with a violation, giving due weight to all testimony and evidence admitted.
(G) 
Electronic recording of hearing.
The proceedings of the hearing shall be recorded electronically. The person charged with a violation may, at his expense, have a certified court reporter present in the hearing room during the proceedings provided that the electronic recording shall constitute the official record of the proceedings. A recording of an administrative hearing under this article shall be preserved for not less than one hundred eighty (180) days after the conclusion of the administrative hearing, until a final disposition of the proceeding, or as otherwise required by law.
(H) 
Decision of hearing officer.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall issue an order stating whether the person charged with a violation is liable for the violation and the amount of any penalty, cost, or fee assessed against the person.
(I) 
Assessment and payment of penalties and fees.
A person who is found liable after an administrative adjudication hearing or who requests an administrative adjudication hearing and thereafter fails to appear at the time and place of the hearing is liable for administrative hearing costs in the amount designated in the Master Fee and Rate Schedule, Article VII, Section 10.85, of Chapter 10, in addition to the amount of the civil penalty assessed for the violation. A person who is found liable for a civil penalty after an administrative adjudication hearing shall pay the civil penalty and costs within thirty-one (31) days of the hearing. The payment of the civil penalty and costs assessed pursuant to this article shall operate as a final disposition of the violation charged, except when payment is made to reset a scheduled hearing or to file an appeal.
(J) 
Continuances and rescheduling.
A scheduled hearing may not be continued or reset at the request of the person charged with a violation more than once unless the person charged deposits with the clerk an amount equal to the applicable civil penalty for the alleged violation. The clerk shall issue a receipt for any amount so deposited. After presentation of the receipt, all amounts so deposited shall be refunded to the person charged if the hearing officer, or the Municipal Court on appeal, finds that the person is not liable for the violation.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06; Ordinance 6097, secs. 5–7, adopted 2/20/07; Ordinance 7363 adopted 9/6/2022)
(A) 
A person who receives a notice of violation under this article may contest the imposition of the civil penalty by requesting in writing an administrative adjudication of the civil penalty within the time provided in the notice. Upon receipt of the request, the City shall notify the person of the date and time of the hearing on the administrative adjudication. A request for a hearing is considered timely if the request is deposited in the United States mail, properly addressed and stamped, on or before the last date for filing as specified in the notice.
(B) 
Failure to pay a civil penalty or to contest liability in a timely manner is an admission of liability in the full amount of the civil penalty assessed in the notice of violation and constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal under section 24.29.
(C) 
Failure to appear at an administrative adjudication hearing after having requested a hearing (including a continued hearing or a rescheduled hearing) is an admission of liability for the full amount of the civil penalty assessed in the notice of violation and the costs of the hearing, and constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal under section 24.29.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06)
(A) 
Contents.
If, after a hearing, the hearing officer finds a person liable for a violation under this article, the order shall contain a statement:
(1) 
Finding the person charged liable for the violation;
(2) 
Of the amount of civil penalties (which shall not exceed 75% of the fine established by the Municipal Court on its schedule of standard fines for a criminal conviction of the violation), fees, and court costs;
(3) 
Of the right to appeal to the Municipal Court before the thirty-first (31st) day after the date the hearing officer’s order is filed; and
(4) 
That the order issued by the hearing officer may be enforced by the filing of a civil suit for collection of the administrative penalties, fees, and costs of court; and (for other than parking violations) by obtaining an injunction that prohibits conduct that violates the ordinance or requires conduct necessary for compliance with the ordinance.
(B) 
Notification.
Within seven (7) days after filing an order of liability issued under this article, the hearing officer shall notify the person against whom an administrative penalty has been assessed of the issuance of the order. An order of liability issued under this article shall be in writing and may be served personally upon the person charged, or by first class United States mail. An order that is mailed shall be mailed to the last known address of the person charged, and is presumed to have been received on the fifth day after the date the order was mailed.
(C) 
Filing.
An order issued by the hearing officer under this article shall be filed with the Clerk of the Municipal Court and shall be kept in a separate index and file. The order may be recorded using microfilm, microfiche, or data processing techniques.
(D) 
Order is final if not timely appealed.
If a person found liable for a violation does not timely appeal the hearing officer’s order, the hearing officer’s order shall become a final judgment enforceable as provided by law.
(E) 
Payment of administrative penalty; costs and fees.
A person who is found liable after an administrative adjudication hearing or who requests an administrative adjudication hearing and thereafter fails to appear at the time and place of the hearing is liable for administrative hearing costs in the amount designated in the Master Fee and Rate Schedule, Article VII, Section 10.85, of Chapter 10, in addition to the amount of the civil penalty assessed for the violation. A person who does not file a timely appeal of a determination of the hearing officer shall pay all civil penalties, costs, and fees assessed by the hearing officer before the thirty-first (31st) day after the date the hearing officer’s determination is filed with the Clerk of the Municipal Court.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06; Ordinance 6097, sec. 8, adopted 2/20/07; Ordinance 7363 adopted 9/6/2022)
(A) 
Appeal to Municipal Court.
A person who is found liable after an administrative adjudication hearing may appeal to the Municipal Court by filing a notice of appeal with the Clerk of the Municipal Court. The notice of appeal must be filed not later than the thirty-first (31st) day after the date on which the hearing officer entered the finding of liability and shall be accompanied by the payment of an appellate filing fee in the amount designated in the Master Fee and Rate Schedule, Article VII, Section 10.85, of Chapter 10.
(B) 
Effect of filing; bond.
An appeal stays the enforcement and collection of the judgment unless the City, at a hearing before a Municipal Court Judge for that purpose, demonstrates that a violation that is the subject of the proceeding has not been corrected or, if corrected, has reoccurred.
(C) 
Transcription.
An appeal from a decision of a hearing officer shall require the filing of a transcription of the electronic recording of the administrative hearing with the Clerk of the Municipal Court.
(1) 
Preparation.
The transcription shall be prepared from the recording of the administrative hearing by a court reporter or other person authorized by the presiding judge of the Municipal Court to transcribe “Court of Record” proceedings. The court reporter or other person who prepares the transcription of the electronic recording of the administrative hearing is not required to have been present at the administrative hearing.
(2) 
Inability to transcribe.
If the person found liable for a violation timely requested that the administrative hearing be recorded and, through no fault of his own, the recording of the hearing is either unavailable or cannot be transcribed, the Municipal Court Judge shall vacate the hearing officer’s order and dismiss the proceeding.
(3) 
Cost of transcription.
The person found liable for the violation shall be responsible for the cost of preparing the transcription of the electronic recording. Before the recorded proceedings are transcribed, the person found liable for the violation shall post a cash deposit with the Clerk of the Municipal Court for the estimated cost of preparing the transcription, as determined by the clerk. If the decision of the hearing officer is fully reversed on appeal, the clerk shall refund all amounts paid for the transcription.
(4) 
Waiver of bond and transcription deposit.
If the presiding judge of the Municipal Court determines that the person found liable for a violation is indigent and financially unable to pay the costs of preparation of the transcription or to post an appeal bond, the presiding judge may order a waiver of those costs.
(D) 
Clerk to prepare record.
Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the Clerk of the Municipal Court shall cause a record of the case to be prepared, consisting of:
(1) 
The transcription of the electronic recording of the administrative hearing, including any exhibits, and
(2) 
The clerk’s record.
The clerk’s record shall include the notice of violation, any pleadings filed in connection with the administrative hearing, any request that the administrative hearing be electronically recorded, the docket sheet relating to the administrative hearing, the order of liability from which the appeal was taken, the notification letter from the hearing officer advising the person of the issuance of the order, the appeal bond, and the notice of appeal.
(E) 
Standard of review.
The Municipal Court Judge shall review the record from the administrative hearing and may grant relief from the administrative order if the record reflects that the hearing officer’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence, the hearing officer abused his discretion, or the hearing officer committed a material error of law. In addition, the Municipal Court Judge may, in the interest of justice, remand a case with instructions to the hearing officer even if affirmance is otherwise appropriate.
(F) 
Time for ruling.
The Municipal Court Judge shall rule on an appeal within thirty calendar days of receiving the record of the case of the administrative hearing. The decision on appeal shall be rendered in writing, with a copy provided to the appellant in the same manner as required for the service of a notice of violation under this article. The decision of the Municipal Court Judge shall be filed with the Clerk of the Municipal Court. The ruling of a Municipal Court Judge in an appeal under this article is a final judgment.
(G) 
Payment of penalties; deduction from bond.
If the Municipal Court Judge affirms the decision of the hearing officer, any penalties, fees, or costs assessed by the hearing officer shall be deducted from the appeal bond. Any balance shall be returned to the person who posted the bond, at the address indicated on the bond. If no appeal bond was posted, all penalties, fees, or costs assessed by the hearing officer shall be paid within thirty days of the date of the Municipal Court Judge’s ruling.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06; Ordinance 6097, secs. 9–11, adopted 2/20/07; Ordinance 7363 adopted 9/6/2022)
The City Attorney may enforce an order issued under this article against a person charged with a violation by filing a civil suit for the collection of a penalty assessed against the person and by obtaining an injunction that prohibits specific conduct that violates the ordinance or that requires specific conduct necessary for compliance with the ordinance.
(Ordinance 6009, sec. 5, adopted 6/6/06)