Duties, quorum, and voting: The board shall have the duty to hear and decide all appeals and variances filed under this code, and shall also be responsible for authorizing the issuance of a citation by the city when an owner, occupant or agent fails to take remedial action to correct code violations within a reasonable period of time as determined by the Building Commissioner. The three members from each district voting precinct shall constitute the Property Maintenance Board for the purpose of hearing appeals and variances and authorizing the issuance of citations regarding property in that district precinct. If one or more of those three persons is unable to serve, any one or more of the remaining members of the board may be designated by the chairperson as replacement(s) so as to provide three persons to hear and decide each case. A majority of the full board of 15 21 members shall select a chairperson. Decisions of the board on any appeal or variance shall be made by a majority vote of the three person panel. Failure to obtain a majority vote to reverse or modify a decision or order appealed from shall constitute affirmance of that order. Similarly, failure to obtain a majority vote to grant a variance shall constitute denial of the variance.

Burden of proof: The person who files an appeal or a request for a variance shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that his appeal or variance should be granted. The board shall have subpoena power to compel attendance of witnesses.