(a) Guidelines. The city manager or designee shall be authorized to coordinate implementation and enforcement of this chapter and may promulgate appropriate guidelines or rules for such purposes. Any guidelines or rules promulgated by the city shall have the force and effect of law and may be relied on by employers, employees and other parties to determine their rights and responsibilities under this chapter. Any guidelines or rules may establish procedures for ensuring fair, efficient and cost effective implementation of this article, including supplementary procedures for helping to inform employees of their rights under this chapter, for monitoring employer compliance with this chapter and for providing administrative hearings to determine whether an employer or other person has violated the requirements of this chapter.
(b) Reporting Violations. An employee or any other person may report to the city in writing any suspected violation of this chapter. The city shall encourage reporting pursuant to this subsection by keeping confidential, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws, the name and other identifying information of the employee or person reporting the violation, provided, however, that with the authorization of such person, the city may disclose his or her name and identifying information as necessary to enforce this chapter or other employee protection laws. In order to further encourage reporting by employees, if the city notifies an employer that the city is investigating a complaint, the city shall require the employer to post or otherwise notify its employees that the city is conducting an investigation, using a form provided by the city.
(c) Investigation. The city shall be responsible for investigating any possible violations of this chapter by an employer or other person. The city shall have the authority to inspect workplaces, interview persons and request the city attorney to subpoena books, papers, records or other items relevant to the enforcement of this chapter.
(d) Informal Resolution. The city shall make every effort to resolve complaints informally, in a timely manner, and shall have a policy that the city shall take no more than one year to resolve any matter before initiating an enforcement action. The failure of the city to meet these time lines within one year shall not be grounds for closure or dismissal of the complaint.
(Ord. 5355 § 1 (part), 2015)