Parking Control Officer at City of Lake Forest – Lake Forest, California

ABOUT OUR JOB



The position is limited to 1,000 hours per July 1 - June 30 at-will and non-benefited.

The Parking Enforcement position varies in shifts and days off (including weekend and holiday work as assigned). Spanish speaking desirable but not a requirement.

Schedule:

Monday - Friday – 4-hour shift beginning at 7AM or 8AM depending on the day of the week.

One 5-hour shift on one weekend day per month, alternating between Saturdays and Sundays.

If keeping things orderly and in compliance is something that comes naturally to you, we want you to join our team as a Parking Control Officer! As a Parking Control Officer, you will perform a variety of technical duties in support of City parking regulations including those related to issuing parking citations and warnings, tows vehicles pursuant to the California Vehicle Code, provides general information and assistance to the public; and performs related work as required.

Please click here for the complete classification.

Interested? Apply here!

ABOUT YOU
The ideal candidate:

• Facilitates and maintains positive working relationships through providing exceptional service.
• Has the ability to independently perform a full range of municipal Parking Control enforcement and compliance duties.
• Possesses excellent communications skills and can do so in a concise and clear manner.
• Feels passionate about public service and demonstrates this quality through an active, engaged work ethic.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: A high school or G.E.D. equivalent. An Associate's Degree in a related field is desirable.

Experience: One (1) year of work experience involving Parking Control enforcement and considerable public contact, preferably in a governmental department involving Parking Control Officer responsibilities or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

A valid California Class C Driver’s License and the ability to maintain insurability under the City's Vehicle Insurance Policy.

ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE

This recruitment is currently open and continuous but may close without further notice at any time. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and submit necessary documents as soon as possible. First review will be conducted on December 23, 2025.

Cover letters and resumes are encouraged as a supplement but not required.

IMPORTANT: Contact with applicants will primarily occur via email. Please ensure that your application indicates a valid email address which you check on a regular basis.

Applicants receiving a conditional offer of employment must successfully complete the pre-placement process for this position before a final offer will be extended. Pre-placement assessments for this position include an Livescan (FBI/DOJ fingerprint review), physical and DMV record review.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.

1. Patrols City streets and neighborhoods to enforce motor vehicle and parking control laws and regulations; identifies vehicle and parking control illegalities and determines, writes and/or issues citations or warnings in accordance with City and state laws, regulations, ordinances, and procedures; responds to calls regarding parking violations and complaints.
2. Interacts with the public on an ongoing basis; receives, researches, and responds to parking and vehicle enforcement questions, issues, and complaints; provides information to the public on parking regulations, ordinances, and citations; reports traffic accidents, traffic hazards, and missing, vandalized, or faded street signs.
3. Assists with the parking adjudication process; reviews and evaluates validity of contested citations within scope of responsibility and authority and when appropriate, dismisses citations; composes and sends appropriate responses; answers customer questions regarding the parking adjudication process; responds to administrative review requests for information regarding sign placement and visibility and disabled parking spots; attends monthly parking adjudication hearings and provides information to examiners.
4. Responds to customer complaints and conducts field investigations of abandoned and inoperative vehicles, vehicles with multiple violations, and other vehicle code violations; issues warnings and citations; coordinates the towing and impound of abandoned/inoperative vehicles or vehicles in violation of other codes and ordinances; initiates, tracks, and updates case information in the City system.
5. Participates in non-judicial hearings related to parking citations.
6. Responds to questions and complaints from the public or refers to supervisor, as necessary.
7. Reports needed repairs of streets and traffic signs and signals to appropriate staff.
8. Reports needed repairs to parking control officer vehicle to appropriate staff. May be required to facilitate repair and other maintenance activity related to parking control vehicles.
9. Reviews City’s communications and public information campaign material related to parking restrictions.
10. Reports traffic accidents and criminal activities or related occurrences to appropriate staff.
11. Maintains accurate records, log sheets, and files; submits copies of citations to appropriate staff; prepares related daily and monthly reports.
12. Consults with legal staff concerning parking control orders; provides assistance to legal staff in preparation of cases for prosecution, including preparing reports, and attends court hearings with the City Attorney, as necessary.
13. May be required to work weekends, evenings, or early mornings to ensure compliance with parking control requirements.
14. Performs related duties as required.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

Functions, principles, and practices of law enforcement agencies. Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility, including the California Vehicle Code and the Lake Forest Municipal Code as it relates to parking. Radio techniques. Terminology and procedures used in public safety dispatching. City geography, maps, streets, landmarks, and driving directions. Basic principles of record keeping. Principles and practices of data collection and report preparation. Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment. English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

Memorize codes, names, street locations, and other information. Read and interpret maps and other pertinent documentation. Interpret, apply, and explain policies, procedures, regulations, ordinances, codes, and regulations. Assess situations while remaining calm and using sound, independent judgment. Maintain accurate records and files. Compile and summarize information to prepare accurate, clear, and concise reports. Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines. Safely and effectively use and operate specialized equipment required for the work. Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs. Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines. Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements:

A valid Class C California Driver’s License and the ability to maintain insurability under the City’s Vehicle Insurance Policy.

Education/Training/Experience:

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from high school or G.E.D. equivalent and one (1) year of work experience involving parking enforcement and considerable public contact, preferably in a private or governmental police or public safety department involving parking enforcement responsibilities or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Physical and Mental Demands and Work Environment

The physical and mental demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to work in a field environment; to walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time; to frequently stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, reach, twist, grasp, and make repetitive hand movement in the performance of daily duties; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull moderate to heavy amounts of weight; to operate assigned equipment and vehicles; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Specific hearing abilities required by this job include hearing in the normal audio range with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee must be able to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; interpret policies and procedures; use math and mathematical reasoning; learn and apply new information or new skills; work under deadlines with constant interruptions; and interact with the general public, outside organizations, business representatives, employees, and others encountered in the course of work, including occasionally dealing with conflict situations.

Work Environment

The employee works in both indoor and outdoor environments; work alone; travel from site to site; incumbents may be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, dust, inclement weather conditions, road hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employee may potentially interact with hostile people and/or environments.