A code enforcement officer tasked with regulating taxis and other private for-hire vehicles in Anchorage recently resigned after just four months on the job, deterred by what officials described as a tough work environment on the night shift.
With the departure, Anchorage's transportation inspector, Eric Musser, is scrambling to fill a full-time position created through the major 2013 rewrite of laws regulating Anchorage's private for-hire transit industry. It takes about three months to complete the training to be a code enforcement officer responsible for enforcing elements of the new Title 11, such as requiring video cameras inside taxicabs.
As well as experience in interpreting and enforcing codes, the job demands a calm disposition and the ability to interact with a diverse clientele, including a large number of immigrants.
"It is fun, if you like interacting with people," Musser said. "It is fun. But it's harder late at night."
Historically speaking, code enforcement officers run into more problems at night, Musser said. "It's a tougher crowd."
Before the drawn-out overhaul of city codes governing for-hire transportation, completed in December 2013, the city had only one part-time code enforcement officer. With more regulation, the industry demanded more enforcement, and permitting fees increased to fund two full-time code enforcement officers.
One officer was already in the department, a six-year veteran. In June, Musser hired the second full-time officer, the first such hire in years.
During the summer, the new officer attended appeal hearings, met with the assistant municipal attorney and learned to conduct vehicle inspections. Then came the interactive part of the training, heading out into the field and on the night shift, Musser said. His hours were 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday.
One shift in October brought an "eye-opener" evening, Musser said. He declined to elaborate, but the result was the new officer, a U.S. Navy veteran, decided he wasn't cut out for the job.
At an Anchorage Assembly public safety committee meeting Wednesday, Dick Traini told Musser he didn't know the position had been vacated.
"Make sure that position gets filled," Traini said.
The transportation inspection department currently monitors about 230 private, for-hire vehicles, including taxis and limousines. At night, in a competitive environment, drivers can get into arguments or fights with code enforcers and with one another, Musser said.
"You have to have a very calm demeanor to be out there," said Musser, a Navy veteran.
Musser said the department is actively recruiting and hopes to have a new officer on board sometime in January -- well in advance of the busy Iditarod season.
The position's base pay is between about $40,500 and $51,500 annually.
"We've got a great staff, very little turnover," Musser said. "But when it's expanding to meet the needs of this deal ... you might go through one or two until you've got one that's a good fit."