Hearings before the board or the commission shall be conducted in general conformance with the following procedure:
A. Generally: The board or the commission may require any person who will testify at a hearing to be sworn in before testifying. The board or the commission may place a time limit on verbal testimony. If there will be a time limitation, the limitation shall be announced at the beginning of the hearing.
B. Overview Of The Application: Hearings before the board or the commission shall commence with a very brief overview from staff and staff's submission of the written report to the board or the commission.
C. Applicant/Appellant Presentation Of Application: The applicant/appellant presents his or her application and shall be allowed an opportunity to present testimony, documents, and other evidence which supports the application.
D. Public Testimony: The board or the commission shall take comments from the public. Those providing public testimony shall be provided an opportunity to present testimony, documents, or other evidence. In its discretion, the board or the commission may alternate between those supporting and those opposing a particular application.
E. Applicant/Appellant Rebuttal: The applicant/appellant shall be allowed the opportunity for rebuttal. Such rebuttal shall be limited to responding to testimony, documents, or other evidence provided during the public testimony.
F. Clarification Of Factual Questions: When statements of fact in the written record appear to be in dispute from all of the testimony given, the board or the commission may ask the staff and/or the applicant/appellant to clarify whether the written record is in error.
G. Close Record: After the board or the commission closes the record and begins its deliberation, no further comments or testimony may be taken from the applicant/appellant, staff or the public. (Ord. 683, 1-23-2008; amd. Ord. 792, 11-2-2011; amd. Ord. 794, 2-15-2012; amd. Ord. 843, 6-3-2015)