(a) Hearing officers shall be recommended by the administrative judge and appointed by the city council, and shall serve until a successor is recommended by the administrative judge and appointed by the city council. Hearing officers shall administratively adjudicate violations of ordinances described by Section 54.032 of the Texas Local Government Code or adopted under Subchapter E, Chapter 683 of the Texas Transportation Code or under Section 214.001(a)(1) of the Texas Local Government Code. The city council shall appoint one hearing officer and may appoint a maximum of five associate hearing officers, who shall meet the same qualifications and have the same powers, duties, and functions of the hearing officer.
(b) A hearing officer must meet all of the following qualifications:
(1) Be a resident of the city of Dallas at the time of employment as a hearing officer and maintain residency in the city throughout such employment.
(2) Be a citizen of the United States.
(3) Be a licensed attorney in good standing.
(4) Have two or more years of experience in the practice of law in the State of Texas.
(c) A hearing officer shall have the following powers, duties, and functions:
(1) To administer oaths.
(2) To accept admissions to, and to hear and determine contests of, premises and property violations under this article.
(3) To issue orders compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, which orders may be enforced by a municipal court.
(4) To assess administrative penalties, fees, and court costs in accordance with this article.
(5) To question witnesses and examine evidence offered.
(6) To suspend the payment of administrative penalties for a specific period of time.
(7) To make a finding as to the financial inability of a person found liable of a violation to comply with an administrative order and to refer that person to potential sources of funding to assist the person in complying with the administrative order.
(8) To make a finding as to the financial inability of a person found liable of a violation to pay for the transcription of any recording of an administrative hearing and/or to post an appeal bond. (Ord. Nos. 25927; 30236)