City Council

CC 14. Designation of an Independent Hearing Officer to Hear Appeals of Orders, Decisions, and/or\nDeterminations of the City Building Official\nRecommendation(s):\nAdopt Resolution No._____ designating an independent hearing officer to hear appeals of\norders, decisions, and/or determinations of the City Building Official.\nChapter 15.04 of the Lancaster Municipal Code authorizes the City Building Official to\nenforce the California Building Code as adopted and/or amended by the City. Under this\nchapter, property owners are granted the right to appeal decisions made by the Building\nOfficial. To ensure due process and maintain impartiality in administrative hearings, staff\nrecommends the designation of an independent hearing officer. This action will establish a\nconsistent and transparent process for hearing appeals related to enforcement actions or\ndeterminations made by the Building Official. The independent hearing officer will be\nresponsible for conducting fair and unbiased hearings and rendering decisions in accordance\nwith applicable laws and regulations. The proposed resolution formally designates an\nindependent hearing officer to hear all such appeals. This designation enhances the City’s\ncommitment to accountability, transparency, and fair administration of its municipal codes.