(A) Inspections Superintendent; duties; powers. The Inspections Superintendent of the Inspections Division of the Planning Department is hereby designated the public officer to exercise the duties and powers prescribed by this subchapter.
(1) Duties. It shall be the duty of the Inspections Superintendent:
(a) To investigate all buildings located in the city in order to determine whether such buildings are especially dangerous to life because of defects in such buildings increasing the hazards of fire, accidents and other calamities; or because of bad conditions of walls, overloaded floors, defective construction, decay, unsafe wiring or heating system, inadequate means of egress; or because of their violation of the minimum standards prescribed in the regulatory codes adopted by the city and appearing in Chapter 151 of this code; or because of other conditions rendering the buildings unsafe or unsanitary, and dangerous and otherwise inimical to the welfare of the citizens of the city;
(b) To take action prescribed by this subchapter, alone or together with other appropriate departments and agencies, public or private, as may be necessary to carry out the general spirit and purpose of this subchapter;
(c) To keep adequate records of all activity conducted pursuant to this subchapter, including, but not limited to, an inventory of those buildings that do not meet minimum standards prescribed by this subchapter;
(d) To report annually to the City Manager concerning the work of his or her division under this subchapter; and
(e) To perform each and every duty necessary and incidental to the fulfillment of the general spirit and purpose of this subchapter.
(2) Powers. The Inspections Superintendent is hereby authorized to exercise any powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the general spirit, purpose and provisions of this subchapter, including specifically, but not limited to, the following:
(a) To investigate the buildings covered under this subchapter which are located in the city in order to determine which buildings are especially dangerous to life under the provisions of § 150.065;
(b) To administer oaths, affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence;
(c) To enter upon premises for the purpose of making examinations and inspections in a manner that will do the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession;
(d) To appoint and fix the duties of officers, agents and employees necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter; and
(e) To delegate any of his or her functions and powers under this subchapter to other officers and other agents.
(B) No utility services. The city shall not provide, nor permit another to provide (either public or private) utility services such as water, gas, electricity, sewer and the like, to any building which is especially dangerous to life because of any of the conditions set forth in § 150.065, and which has become vacant, until such building has been inspected and brought into compliance with the regulatory codes adopted in this title, and a valid certificate of compliance, as required, has been issued. This requirement shall not preclude the temporary use of such utility services as may be deemed necessary during construction, repair or alteration. The Inspections Superintendent shall be responsible for making the determination as to when such “temporary services” may be necessary.
(C) No permits. No building, plumbing, electrical, gas or other permit, as may be required, for an addition, alteration or repair of any existing building which is especially dangerous to life because of the conditions set forth in § 150.065 shall be issued until such time as an inspection of the property has been made to determine the feasibility of rehabilitation of such building.
(Code 2019, § 4-10.1) (Ord. passed 6-27-2011)