Street Use Inspector - By-law Enforcement Officer, Integrated Response

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Requisition :45378

Organization

Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Recognized among BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver is seeking colleagues who can help advance our core commitments to exceptional public service, sustainability, equity, and an outstanding quality of life for all residents.

With a strong commitment to being a City of Reconciliation, we invite you to join our dedicated team and become part of an innovative, inclusive, and engaging workplace. A career with the City of Vancouver and within the broader public service, offers meaningful work where you play a key role in ensuring equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and supporting the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose & Function

The By-law Enforcement Officer position is part of an interdepartmental team (Integrated Response Team, IRT) responsible for addressing temporary structures in the public realm and seeking compliance with by-laws. The position works tactfully and compassionately with individuals experiencing homelessness and/or individuals who may live with issues related to substance use, mental health, physical and/or cognitive disabilities and other issues related to poverty and marginalization.

This position leads investigations and enforces by-law requirements with a high degree of discretion and independent judgement based on understanding and responding to an individual’s needs while upholding the City’s responsibilities to maintain sidewalk accessibility, access and egress to buildings and public safety. The By-law Enforcement Officer and other IRT staff assess cases based on a variety of factors and decide on response plans, including priorities and response times.

The By-law Enforcement Officer reports directly to a Superintendent I. The position works collaboratively with partners from a variety of internal and external groups, including property use inspectors, Housing and Homelessness Services, Park Rangers, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, Vancouver Police Department, and others as needed. The position also works with a diverse range of community members, staff, businesses and community service.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides support in resolving complex incidents, inquiries and complaints
• Conducts site visits and works primarily in the field
• Resolves problems independently in the absence of a supervisor
• Interprets and provides on-site assessment of compliance with by-laws, including:
  Street and Traffic By-law, Street Vending By-law, Solid Waste By-law, City Land Regulation By-law, Impounding By-law, Parks Control By-law and others as required
• Directly engages individuals to communicate by-law information, explains the risks of being out of compliance with by-laws, understands the individual’s needs, and recommends possible supports or solutions for enabling compliance (for example: explaining options for storing belongings, making referrals to the City’s Homelessness Services Outreach team)
• Enforces by-laws based on understanding and responding to the individual’s needs, while also upholding the City’s responsibilities to maintain sidewalk and laneway accessibility, access and egress to buildings, and public safety
• Exercises discretion and maintains confidentiality around the sensitive aspects of each case
• Independently leads investigations and enforces by-law, permit and license requirements including gathering and documenting evidence, issuing violation notices, orders and/or offence tickets (Municipal Ticket Information or MTIs), impounding structures and other items, and pursuing prosecution, including preparing reports and presenting evidence in a court of law
• Provides verbal and/or written information to individuals about how to retrieve impounded items
• Documents information about each impoundment, and provides the information to clerks to enable retrieval of impounded items
• Collects and stores information,…