A. 
The city council finds that there is a need for an alternative method of enforcement for ordinances, permits and entitlements, reviews, and city agreements. The city council also finds that an appropriate method for enforcement of various violations is an administrative citation program that will reduce the burden on the judicial system while providing full due process for those cited.
B. 
The procedures established in this chapter are in addition to criminal, civil or other legal remedies that may be available to the city of Lemon Grove to enforce violations of the municipal code or applicable state codes.
C. 
The city council finds that administrative penalties, which are authorized by California Constitution Article XI, Section 7 and Government Code Section 53069.4, are an appropriate method of enforcement.
D. 
The city council finds and determines that enforcement of the provisions of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code and conditions on entitlements or permits are municipal affairs as well as matters of purely local concern to the citizens of Lemon Grove.
E. 
The city council finds that the adoption and implementation of this administrative citation program is within the power and authority of the city of Lemon Grove and will achieve the following goals:
1. 
To protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the city of Lemon Grove;
2. 
To help ensure compliance with the municipal code and state codes, ordinances, permits and entitlements, reviews, and city agreements in a timely and efficient manner;
3. 
To provide for an administrative process to appeal the imposition of administrative citations and fines that will fully comport with due process;
4. 
To provide a method to hold parties responsible when they fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of the municipal code, ordinances, permits and entitlements, reviews, and city agreements in the city of Lemon Grove;
5. 
To reduce the burden on the judicial system and minimize the time and expense of defending the citation on the part of the person cited.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
"Administrative citation"
means a written notice that mandates corrective action and establishes a fine as a penalty for noncompliance.
"City agreement"
means and includes but is not limited to a development agreement, owner participation agreement, disposition and development agreement, road maintenance agreement, easement, license, other real property use agreement, and agreement to implement an ordinance, plan, permit, entitlement, or review approved by the city.
"City manager"
means the city manager of the city of Lemon Grove, or his or her designee. "Enforcement officer" means any city employee or agent of the city, as designated by the city manager, with the authority to enforce the Lemon Grove Municipal Code, including, but not limited to, a code enforcement officer, lifeguard, parking enforcement officer, inspector, and the fire marshal.
"Hearing officer"
means the person selected by the city manager to conduct an administrative hearing pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
"Municipal code"
means the Lemon Grove Municipal Code.
"Permit or entitlement"
means and includes but is not limited to a conditional use permit, sign permit, variance, specific plan, parcel map, subdivision map, building or grading permit, encroachment or right-of-way permit, business license, storm water permit, and any other permit required by this code.
"Responsible person"
means a person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, nonprofit corporation, trustee, association or any other legal entity, who the city manager determines is responsible for causing or maintaining a public nuisance or a violation of the municipal code or applicable state codes. The term "responsible person" includes but is not limited to the following:
1. 
The owner, tenant, or occupant of real property;
2. 
The holder or the agent of the holder of any permit, entitlement, or review;
3. 
The party or the agent of a party to an agreement covered by this chapter;
4. 
The owner or the authorized agent of any business, company, or entity subject to this chapter; or
5. 
The parent or legal guardian of any such person under the age of eighteen years and who violates any ordinance, regulation, permit, entitlement, review, or agreement described in Section 9.32.040.
"Review"
means and includes but is not limited to a development review, environmental impact report, mitigated negative declaration, negative declaration, and determination of categorical exemption.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
Any person who violates any provision of the Lemon Grove Municipal Code or regulation of the city, any condition of approval of a permit or entitlement, any condition of an environmental review, or any term or condition of any agreement with the city made pursuant to the police power may be issued an administrative citation by an enforcement officer as provided in this chapter. A violation of this code includes, but is not limited to, all violations of the municipal code and the failure to comply with any condition imposed by any entitlement, permit, city agreement or environmental review issued or approved pursuant to this code.
B. 
Each and every day that a violation of the municipal code exists constitutes a separate and distinct offense. A separate citation may be issued for each day a violation occurs.
C. 
A civil fine shall be assessed by means of an administrative citation issued by the enforcement officer and shall be payable directly to the city of Lemon Grove.
D. 
Fines shall be assessed in the amounts specified by resolution of the city council, or where no amount is specified:
1. 
A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for a first violation;
2. 
A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for a second violation of the same ordinance or permit within eighteen-month period from the date of the first violation;
3. 
A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for the third violation of the same ordinance or permit within eighteen-month period from the date of the first violation.
4. 
A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars for each additional violation of the same ordinance or permit within eighteen-month period from the date of the first violation.
E. 
A second or subsequent violation need only be of the same ordinance, term, or condition to require the larger fine, and need not involve the same personnel or property, provided that the same responsible person is cited. The fine amounts shall be cumulative where multiple citations are issued.
F. 
If the violation pertains to building, plumbing, electrical, or other similar structural or zoning issues, that do not create an immediate danger to health and safety, then the responsible person shall be issued a warning prior to being issued the first violation. The warning will advise the responsible person of the nature of the violation and the date upon which the violation shall be corrected. The responsible person will be given no more than fifteen days to correct the violation. If the violation is not corrected within that time period, an administrative citation with a fine shall be issued.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
An administrative citation on a form approved by the city manager may be issued to the responsible person by an enforcement officer for violations of the municipal code or applicable state code in the following manner:
1. 
Personal Service. In any case where an administrative citation is issued:
a. 
The enforcement officer shall attempt to locate and personally serve the responsible person and obtain the signature of the responsible person on the administrative citation.
b. 
If the responsible person served refuses or fails to sign the administrative citation, the failure or refusal to sign shall not affect the validity of the administrative citation or of subsequent proceedings.
2. 
Service of Citation by Mail. If the enforcement officer is unable to locate the responsible person, the administrative citation shall be mailed to the responsible person by certified mail, postage prepaid with a requested return receipt. Simultaneously, the citation may be sent by first class mail. If the citation is sent by certified mail and returned unsigned, then service shall be deemed effective pursuant to first class mail, provided the citation sent by first class mail is not returned.
3. 
Service by Citation by Posting Notice. If the enforcement officer does not succeed in personally serving the responsible person, or by certified mail or regular mail, the enforcement officer shall post the administrative citation on any real property within the city in which the city has knowledge that the responsible person has a legal interest, and such posting shall be deemed effective service.
B. 
The enforcement officer must complete a declaration of service.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
Each administrative citation shall contain the following information:
1. 
Date, approximate time, and address or definite description of the location where the violation(s) was observed;
2. 
The code sections or conditions violated and a description of the violation(s);
3. 
An order to the responsible person to correct the violations within the time specified, if applicable, and an explanation of the consequences of failure to correct the violation(s);
4. 
The amount of the fine for the violation(s);
5. 
An explanation of how the fine shall be paid and the time period by which it shall be paid;
6. 
A notification that payment of the fine does not excuse or discharge the failure to correct the violation and does not bar further enforcement action by the city;
7. 
A statement that if the fine is not timely paid, a late payment penalty of twenty-five percent of the amount of the fine will be added to the fine;
8. 
Identification of rights of appeal, including the time within which the citation may be contested and the place to obtain a request for hearing form to contest the administrative citation; and
9. 
The name and signature of the enforcement officer, the name and address of the responsible person, and, if possible the signature of the responsible person.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
Upon receipt of a citation, the responsible person must do the following:
1. 
Pay the fine to the city within thirty days from the correction date of the administrative citation. All fines assessed shall be payable to the Lemon Grove city treasurer. Payment of a fine shall not excuse or discharge the failure to correct the violation(s) nor shall it bar further enforcement action by the city; or
2. 
Contest the administrative citation and request an administrative hearing within thirty days from the correction date of the administration citation.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
Recipient of an administrative citation may contest that there was a violation of any ordinance, regulation, permit, entitlement, or agreement covered by this chapter, or that he or she is the responsible person by completing a request for hearing form and returning it to the city within thirty days from the correction date of the administration citation.
B. 
The request for hearing form must be accompanied by either an advanced deposit of the fine or a request for hardship waiver. Any administrative citation fine which has been deposited shall be refunded if it is determined, after a hearing, that there was no violation(s) as charged in the administrative citation.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
A person who files a request for an administrative hearing may also request at the same time a hardship waiver of the fine deposit. To seek such a waiver and obtain a separate hearing on the request, the responsible person must check the box indicating this request on the form contained on the reverse side of the citation and attach a statement of the grounds for the request. To be effective, this form requesting the waiver and the administrative hearing must be received by the city manager's office within fifteen days of the date the citation is issued.
B. 
The waiver request will be decided by the city manager and issue the advance deposit hardship waiver only if the responsible party submits to the city manager a sworn affidavit, together with any supporting documents or materials, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the city manager the person's actual financial inability to deposit with the city the full amount of the fine in advance of the hearing.
C. 
The city manager shall inform the responsible party in writing of whether the waiver was approved, by serving the party personally or by mail at the addressed provided in the waiver application. The city manager's determination is final and is not subject to appeal or judicial review.
D. 
If the waiver is denied, the responsible party shall pay the fine amount within ten days. Failure to make the deposit by the time required shall be deemed an abandonment of the contest and renders the fine delinquent.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
The city manager shall select a fair and impartial hearing officer from a panel of hearing officers selected by city council for the administrative citation hearing. The hearing officer shall not be a Lemon Grove city employee.
B. 
The employment, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits of the hearing officer, if any, shall not be directly or indirectly conditioned upon the amount of administrative citation fines upheld by the hearing officer.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
No hearing to contest an administrative citation before a hearing officer shall be held unless and until a request for hearing form has been completed and submitted, and, the fine has been deposited in advance, or a an advance deposit hardship waiver has been issued.
B. 
A hearing before the hearing officer shall be set for a date that is not less than fifteen and not more than sixty days from the date that the request for hearing is filed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The responsible party requesting the hearing shall be notified of the time and place set for the hearing at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing.
C. 
At least ten days prior to the hearing, the recipient of an administrative citation shall be provided with copies of the citations, reports and other documents submitted or relied upon by the enforcement officer. If, after copies of documents have been provided to the responsible party, the city determines to submit to the hearing officer additional documents then, whenever possible, a copy of such documents shall be provided to party prior to the hearing. No other discovery is permitted. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply.
D. 
The hearing officer shall only consider evidence that is relevant to whether the violation(s) occurred and whether the responsible person has caused or maintained the violation(s). Courtroom rules of evidence shall not apply. Relevant hearsay evidence and written reports may be admitted whether or not the speaker or author is present to testify if the hearing officer determines that the evidence is reliable. Admission of evidence and the conduct of the hearing shall be controlled by the hearing officer in accordance with the fundamentals of due process. The hearing officer may limit the total length of the hearing to one hour, and shall allow the responsible party at least as much time to present its case as is allowed the city.
E. 
At the hearing, the responsible party requesting the hearing shall be given the opportunity to present, either them self or through a representative, evidence and testimony concerning the administrative citation. The city's case shall be presented by an enforcement officer or by any other authorized agent of the city.
F. 
The failure of the responsible party, either personally or through counsel, of an administrative citation to appear at the administrative citation hearing shall constitute a forfeiture of the fine and a failure to exhaust his or her administrative remedies.
G. 
The hearing officer may consolidate administrative citations issued to the same responsible person.
H. 
The hearing officer may continue the hearing and request additional information from the enforcement officer or the recipient of the administrative citation prior to issuing a written decision.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
After considering all of the testimony and evidence submitted at the hearing, the hearing officer may announce a decision orally, but in any event, shall prepare a written decision. The decision shall be provided to the parties within ten days of the hearing and shall either affirm the issuance of the citation as issued or dismiss the citation. The decision shall briefly state the reasons for the conclusion of the hearing officer. The city may serve the notice of decision for the administrative hearing to the responsible person personally or through certified and first class United States mail. The decision of the hearing officer shall be final. If the hearing officer determines that First Amendment rights are involved, the decision shall be issued orally at the conclusion of the hearing and shall be effective immediately. A written decision shall thereafter be issued as provided hereinbelow.
B. 
If the hearing officer affirms the issuance of the administrative citation, then the deposit with the city shall be retained by the city. If a hardship waiver was granted, the decision shall set forth a payment schedule for the fine.
C. 
If the hearing officer determines that the administrative citation should be canceled and the fine was deposited with the city, then the city shall refund the deposit within ten days of the hearing officer's decision.
D. 
The hearing officer shall not have the power to reduce the fine. The hearing officer may impose conditions and deadlines to correct any violations or require payment of any outstanding penalties.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
The hearing officer is authorized to assess any reasonable costs. Administrative costs may include scheduling and processing of the hearing and all subsequent actions.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
A. 
The failure of any person to pay the civil fines imposed by an administrative citation within the time specified on the citation may result in the filing of a claim with the Small Claims Court or the Superior Court for recovery of the fine. The only issue to be adjudicated by the court shall be whether or not the fines were paid. A person cited may only obtain judicial review of the validity of the citation by writ of mandate after exhausting their administrative remedies by requesting and participating in an administrative hearing before a hearing officer. In the court action, the city may also recover its collection costs, including the cost of the hearing officer, and any court fees, according to proof.
B. 
In lieu of or in addition to the filing of a court action, the city may impose a code enforcement lien, in the amount of the fine plus interest and late charges, on the real property upon which the violation occurs. Any lien imposed pursuant to this chapter shall attach upon the recordation of a notice of code enforcement lien in the office of the county recorder.
C. 
The city at its discretion may pursue any and all legal and equitable remedies for the collection of unpaid fines, interest and penalties. The use of one recovery method does not preclude the use of any other recovery method.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
If the violation is corrected within a reasonable time after the decision of the hearing officer, the city manager shall have the discretion to reduce any cumulative fines to a total of not less than one thousand dollars upon good cause shown by the responsible person. The determination of the city manager shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal or judicial review. Fines shall not otherwise be reduced.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
Any responsible party who fails to pay a fine imposed by this chapter on or before the date that payment is due, shall also be liable for the payment of a late payment charge of twenty-five percent of the fine. In addition, delinquent fines shall accrue interest at the rate of ten percent per month, excluding penalties, from the due date.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
Either the city or the appellant aggrieved by a decision of a hearing officer on an administrative citation may obtain review of the administrative decision by filing a petition for review with the San Diego Superior Court in accordance with the timelines and provisions as set forth in California Government Code Section 53069.4. Such procedure shall be available under this chapter, notwithstanding that the term or condition being enforced pursuant to this chapter may not be a matter covered by Section 53069.4(a). Judicial review of a citation shall not be available without first exhausting all available administrative remedies and participating in a hearing as provided in this chapter.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)
Failure to comply with any procedural requirement of this chapter, to receive any notice or decision specified in this chapter, or to receive any copy required to be provided by this chapter shall not affect the validity of proceedings conducted hereunder unless the responsible person is denied constitutional due process thereby.
(Ord. 356 § 2, 2006)