(1) Notice Procedure for Quasi-judicial Hearing. Whenever a quasi-judicial public hearing is required by this Title, notice of the public hearing will be given at least 10 days before the hearing by each of the following methods:

(2) Notice Procedure for Legislative Hearing. Whenever a legislative public hearing is required by this Title, the City will give notice of the public hearing at least 10 days before the hearing by means of subsection (1)(b) of this section.

(3) Contents of Notice for Quasi-judicial or Legislative Hearing. The notice given pursuant to subsections (1) and (2) of this section will contain at least the following:

(1) Opening of Public Hearing. The person presiding at the hearing will declare the public hearing open.

(2) Staff Report. The staff will present its report, and answer questions from the person or members of the body holding the hearing.

(3) Public Testimony. If the hearing is quasi-judicial in nature, the person presiding at the hearing will ask all members of the hearing body questions concerning their ability to fairly hear the matter to be heard. The applicant, and/or their representatives, if any, will speak first. If the hearing is an appeal filed by a person other than the applicant, that person will speak first and then the applicant will be allowed to speak. After both the proponents and opponents of a proposal or appeal have presented their cases, any interested person who is neutral as to the proposal or appeal may be heard. After all interested persons have had a fair opportunity to speak and respond to other speakers, the person presiding over the hearing will declare the public hearing either continued or closed.

Any hearing may be continued to a date, time, and place certain to obtain information needed for a proper decision for the presentation of written or formal findings and conclusions, or for other good cause. No further notice of the continued hearing will be required if the hearing is continued to a date, time, and place certain.

(4) Relevant Speech and Material. A person may speak or submit material on any relevant subject. A subject is relevant if it is related to the proposal being reviewed, and the findings and review criteria required by this Title. The person presiding at a hearing may exclude speech and material which is not relevant or respectful.

(5) Time Limits. The person or body holding a hearing may impose reasonable time limits for persons speaking during a hearing.

(6) Rules of Procedure. The person or body holding a hearing may adopt rules of procedure to supplement this Section. However, formal rules of evidence or procedure followed by a court of law will not be applicable to hearings conducted in accordance with the requirements of this Title.

(7) Discussion. The person or members of the body holding a hearing may ask questions of the staff or any other person after a hearing is closed for public testimony. However, if these questions raise relevant new material and that material is discussed, the public hearing may be reopened for testimony on the relevant new material not presented previously.

(8) Decision. The decision of the person or body holding a hearing will be made after the hearing is closed for public testimony. For the Director of Community Development and other staff, the decision will be made within 14 days after the hearing was closed for public testimony. For the Hearing Examiner, Commission, and Council, the decision will be made within 90 days of the day the hearing was closed for public testimony. The decision will be made after due deliberation and will be based on the relationship of the proposal to the appropriate standards and criteria of this Title. The decision will be supported by appropriate findings and conclusions. The decision will be reported in writing promptly to the applicant, or appellant if any, and any other person requesting a copy of the decision.

(9) Records. The Director of Community Development will keep a permanent record of all public hearings including a verbatim tape recording of the hearing, summary minutes, and all exhibits including staff reports. (Ord. 25-08 §1 (Att. A), 2025; Ord. 22-2 §8, 2022; Ord. 03-33 §60, 2003; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).