§ 29.02.03. Responsibilities.

The director of code enforcement or code inspectors shall make inspections of rental dwellings and rooming houses pursuant to an inspection plan as authorized by this code, or in response to a complaint that an alleged violation of the provisions of this code or of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto has been committed, or when the code inspector has a valid reason to believe that a violation of the provisions of the code, or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, exists. If, upon inspection, a structure, building or dwelling/rooming unit is found in "violation of this code, the director of code enforcement or his/her authorized agent shall issue to the owner of said structure, building or dwelling/rooming unit or his authorized agent a list of noted violations to be known as a "Notice of Violation." The owner or his or her authorized agent and/or the occupant(s), as appropriate, shall have 30 days from the issuance of a notice of violation to correct such noted violations as have been noted or to take the matter to the housing appeals board. If, after 30 days from the issuance of a notice of violation, such noted violations of this code have not been begun in good faith, nearly corrected or corrected, and not taken to the housing appeals board, the director of code enforcement or his or her authorized agent shall issue an "order to comply." This order to comply shall list the violations initially found and not begun in good faith, nearly corrected or corrected, as evidenced by sufficient documentation, in the notice of violation. The owner or his authorized agent shall have 15 days from the issuance of an order to comply to correct such violations. If, after 30 days from the issuance of an order to comply, such violations are not corrected, the director of code enforcement or his or her authorized agent shall institute appropriate proceedings under Chapter 29.09 herein.

(A)

The director of code enforcement shall be responsible for keeping a written record of the findings of all inspections. These records shall be available to the public at cost upon request.

(B)

Information not related to the enforcement of the housing code which may be discovered in the course of an inspection shall be considered privileged. Such information shall not be made public without the written consent of the owner and of the occupant of the dwelling unit inspected. If any information pertaining to criminal activity is discovered pursuant to a housing inspection, such information is not privileged under this code.

(C)

All records pertaining to the identification of a complainant shall be kept separate and confidential from the public record of inspection and notice of violation in regard to and structure. All other information regarding application, biennial inspections and notices of violations pertaining to any premises shall be public record and available upon request.

(D)

All information pertaining to the renewal or new issuance of rental dwelling permits and rooming house permits and all notices of change of ownership of rental dwellings and rooming houses shall be forwarded to the city auditor for tax record purposes.

(E)

The director of code enforcement shall not accept or act upon anonymous complaints. If the code enforcement office, upon inspection, finds the complaint to be malicious or made in bad faith, they may assess the complainant an inspection fee to be determined by ordinance, and the name of the complainant may not be considered privileged.

(F)

Pursuant to implementation of Section 29.02.02(B), any owner, occupant or person having care of property where a periodic or nonperiodic inspection has been scheduled shall be assessed a fee established by separate ordinance if this inspection is missed or not cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled inspection.