About the Panel

Pacific Grove Municipal Code Chapter 1.19 sets forth an administrative enforcement process to enforce the City Charter, the Municipal Code and Municipal Ordinances. The purposes of administrative enforcement are to facilitate improved and more consistent code compliance, reduce obstacles and time delays that result from criminal or civil enforcement, and result in more uniform application of the City's rules and procedures.

Administrative enforcement may result in a Citation, which addresses violations that are minor or transient in nature such as yard waste, false alarms, noise issues, or vehicle parking, or a Compliance Order, which addresses more serious, continuing or recurring violations. Citations and Compliance Orders may be contested through the administrative hearing process, which is a civil hearing before an Administrative Hearing Officer. The hearing may result in the imposition of fines, costs, liens, or orders to clean, repair or demolish property. Alternatively, the violation may be cancelled or dismissed.

The Administrative Enforcement Hearing Officer Panel consists of seven residents of the City, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the council. Each appointee shall serve for a two-year term; provided, however, that four members of the panel shall be appointed to terms ending on January 31st in even-numbered years, and three members of the panel shall be appointed to terms ending on January 31st in odd-numbered years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired remainder of that term.

The Mayor shall select one member of the Administrative Enforcement Hearing Officer Panel to be the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer serves in that capacity at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Presiding Officer shall designate the Hearing Officer for the administrative hearing. The Hearing Officer presides over the case, just as a judge would in a courtroom.