City and County of San Francisco

Under direction, conducts administrative review hearings on contested: (1) parking citations and towed and booted vehicles, (2) transit violation citations, (3) Safe Paths of Travel (SPOT) citations, and (4) citations issued to (or administrative actions brought against) taxi permit holders or individuals/entities operating without a permit in accordance with the California Vehicle and Public Utilities Codes and Municipal Codes including the San Francisco Transportation and Administrative Codes; conducts administrative hearings for ADA (American with Disabilities Act) complaints made against Muni Operators in accordance with ADA and Muni regulations, policies and procedures; makes findings of facts and relays decisions in accordance with established procedures to ensure a fair and impartial review; and performs related duties as required.

The Administrative Hearing Examiner is a journey-level class and is distinguished from 8168 Parking Hearing Supervisor in that the Administrative Hearing Examiner conducts administrative hearings whereas the Parking Hearing Supervisor assigns, directs and evaluates the work of a group of Administrative Hearing Examiners. The work of the Administrative Hearing Examiner requires the exercise of considerable independence and judgment. The class is distinguished from the 8162 Rent Board Hearing Officer in that class 8162 by law requires that employees be members of the bar, due to the more complicated nature of the law and hearings, whereas the law for Administrative Hearing Examiner requires 20 hours training to conduct parking administrative hearings pursuant to the California Vehicle Code.

None.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 409, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Conducts administrative hearings for vehicle owners and drivers on contested parking citations and on towed or booted vehicles; makes findings of fact and renders verbal and written decisions.

2. Conducts administrative hearings for protested transit violation citations, Safe Paths of Travel (SPOT) citations, Taxi citation (or administrative actions) and ADA complaints made against Muni Operators; makes findings of fact and renders verbal and written decisions.

3. Completes the investigative procedure in a consistent and timely manner following established departmental procedures.

4. Interfaces with employees of City departments or other agencies to obtain necessary information related to policy, procedures, or answers to specific questions or situations needed to complete cases. 

5. Maintains records of hearing decisions and continuances and monitors such cases until brought to conclusion. Retains all evidence and files in all cases in accordance with departmental procedure.

6. Assists the public by responding to inquiries related to administrative hearings.

7. Accesses all relevant data and interprets information from applicable statutes, ordinances, databases, and case files.   

8. Enters all hearing decisions into a computer database; utilizes and operates computer equipment to obtain relevant information.

9. Reviews citations and complaints and evaluates testimony and physical evidence and other relevant information; performs related duties required to effectively conduct administrative hearings.

10. May conduct public hearings related to parking, transit and traffic matters.

11. Reviews codes, policies, procedures and practices involving the issuance processing, and adjudication of parking citations, towed and booted vehicles, transit violation citations, SPOT citations, Taxi citations (or administrative actions) and ADA complaints against Muni Operators on a regular basis.

12. Assists in processing mail requests, enters statistical data, and schedules hearings as needed.

13. Writes hearing decisions in conformance with guidelines.

Knowledge of: Codes, policies, ordinances, regulations and procedures relevant to administrative hearings including California Vehicle Code, California Public Utilities Code and Municipal Traffic Code including San Francisco Transportation and Administrative Code; mediation methods and techniques.

Skill to: Resolve disputes in a courteous manner; make sound decisions and judgments maintain a professional demeanor in stressful situations; investigate in order to reach a decision on contested violations/claims; deal with stress and hostile claimants.

Ability to: Plan, organize and conduct administrative hearings; interpret and apply laws, codes and procedures relevant to the hearing; ; prepare clear, concise written hearing decisions and other correspondence and reports; clearly express ideas, findings and other information verbally to a broad range of audiences; establish and maintain effective communication with staff and diverse ethnic and economic groups; deal tactfully and courteously with staff and the general public; work under strict timelines; use computer database, spreadsheet, word-processing and other job-related computer programs.

Education: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two (2) years of verifiable full-time experience in mediation, arbitration, dispute resolution or conducting administrative hearings.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units/forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

Note: Employees will be required to complete twenty (20) hours of training, provided by the Agency, pursuant to the California Vehicle Code, within three (3) months of appointment.

Amended: 02/05/2016

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.