By JIM BUTLER

Alexandria officials are moving to create an entity to resolve alleged violations of city code.

Specifically, the Administrative Hearing Bureau will hear cases involving abandoned or blighted property, public health, housing, fire prevention and the environment.

Such bureaus in other cities provide an efficient method of handling such citations in a timely manner, while removing them from the political cauldron.

Decisions by hearing officers could be appealed to Ninth Judicial District Court.

The hearing officers would be officers or employees of the city’s Legal Division or contracted attorneys.

According to a filing with the City Council, cost of the bureau activity would be covered within the existing Executive budget.

Such hearing branches are a common approach to dispute resolution. In municipal instances they are often referred to as “blight court.”