A. After considering all of the testimony and evidence submitted at the hearing, and within fifteen days after the conclusion of the hearing, the administrative hearing officer shall issue a written decision regarding the administrative citation and shall list in the decision the reasons for that decision. The decision of the administrative hearing officer shall be final, unless judicial review of that decision is requested in accordance with this chapter.

B. The administrative hearing officer’s decision shall include a statement that the person who received the administrative citation may contest the decision by filing a notice of appeal in accordance with the timelines and procedures specified in Government Code Section 53069.4.

C. If the administrative hearing officer determines that the administrative citation should be upheld, then the penalty amount on deposit with the city shall be retained by the city.

D. If the administrative hearing officer determines that the administrative citation should be upheld and the penalty has not been deposited pursuant to an advance deposit hardship waiver, the administrative hearing officer shall set forth in the decision a schedule for payment of the penalty, which shall not extend more than one hundred eighty days from the date of the decision.

E. If the administrative hearing officer determines that the administrative citation should not have been issued, or that the amount of an administrative penalty should be canceled or reduced, and the original penalty amount was deposited with the city, then the city shall promptly refund the amount of the deposited penalty, together with any interest earned thereon by the city for the period of time that the penalty amount was held by the city.

F. The recipient of the administrative citation shall be served with a copy of the administrative hearing officer’s written decision by the hearing officer.