Agenda

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Public Hearings 11.

BCC Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:	05/07/2015
Issue: 5:31 p.m. Public Hearing to Consider Amending the Enforcement Officers Ordinance
From:	Meredith Crawford
Department:	County Attorney's Office
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

5:31 p.m. Public Hearing for consideration of adopting an Ordinance amending the Enforcement Officers Ordinance.

Recommendation: That the Board adopt an Ordinance amending Chapter 30, Section 30-92, of the Escambia County Code of Ordinances, specifically the definitions of "Building Construction Code Enforcement Officer" and "Environmental Law Enforcement Officer," removing language that the Officers are "vested with authority to bear arms and make arrests" from the definitions.

BACKGROUND:

At its April 23, 2015 meeting, the Board approved setting the Public Hearing for consideration of amending the Enforcement Officers Ordinance.

As presently written, the definitions of "Building Construction Code Enforcement Officer" and "Environmental Law Enforcement Officer" include the language that such an officer is vested with the authority to bear arms and make arrests. There is no statutory authority for County Environmental Law Enforcement Officers to possess such powers. Given the lack of statutory authority to carry weapons and make arrests, the County amends its Ordinance to bring the definitions into compliance with the County's Building Construction Code and Environmental Law Enforcement Officers' actual authority.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

N/A

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

The proposed Ordinance was drafted by Assistant County Attorney, Meredith D. Crawford. The Ordinance was advertised in the April 25, 2015, edition of the Pensacola News Journal.

PERSONNEL:

N/A

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

A copy of the Ordinance will be filed with the Department of State.

Attachments
Ordinance
Proof of Publication