(A) Enforcement proceedings for the violation of a binding element shall be initiated by the issuance of a citation by either a Land Use Enforcement or Citation Officer from Jefferson County or the City Citation Officer.
(B) When a Land Use Enforcement or Citation Officer, based upon personal observation or investigation, has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of a binding element has occurred, the officer may issue a warning notice and citation to the offender. Prior to issuing a citation, however, the officer shall issue a warning notice giving the offender ten days, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays excluded, in which to remedy the violation. If the person to whom the notice is given fails or refuses to remedy the violation within the specified time, the Land Use Enforcement or Citation Officer may issue a citation. However, if the violation is a threat to the public safety, the Land Use Enforcement or Citation Officer immediately shall issue a citation without a prior warning notice.
(C) The citation issued by the Land Use Enforcement or Citation Officer shall be in a form prescribed by the Planning Commission and shall contain, in addition to any other information required by the Planning Commission:
(1) The date and time of issuance;
(2) The name and address of the person to whom the citation is issued;
(3) The date and time the violation of the binding element was committed;
(4) The facts constituting the violation of the element violated;
(5) The name of the Land Use Enforcement or Citation Officer;
(6) The civil fine that will be imposed for the violation if the person does not contest the citation;
(7) The procedure for the person to follow in order to pay the civil fine or to contest the citation; and
(8) A statement that if the person fails to pay the civil fine set forth in the citation or to contest the citation within the time allowed, the person shall be deemed to have waived the right to a hearing before the Planning Commission to contest the citation, and that the determination that a violation was committed shall be final.
(D) All citations issued shall be hand-delivered to the alleged violator. After issuing a citation to an alleged violator, the Land Use Enforcement or Citation Officer shall notify the Planning Commission by delivering the citation to the administrative official designated by the Planning Commission.
(E) When a citation is issued, the person to whom the citation is issued shall respond to the citation within 14 days of the date the citation is issued by either paying the civil fine set forth in the citation or requesting, in writing, a hearing before the Planning Commission to contest the citation. If the person fails to respond to the citation within 14 days, the person shall be deemed to have waived the right to a hearing to contest the citation and the determination that a violation was committed shall be considered final. In this event, the Planning Commission shall enter a final order determining that the violation was committed and imposing the civil fine set forth in the citation.
(Ord. 9-25-00, passed 10-23-00)