(A) Notice. Notice of a hearing held pursuant to Neb. RS 53-134 shall be given to the applicant by the City Clerk/Treasurer and shall contain the date, time, and location of the hearing. Two or more proceedings which are legally or factually related may be heard and considered together unless any party thereto makes a showing sufficient to satisfy the City Council that prejudice would result therefrom.
(B) Procedure.
(1) Hearings will be informal and conducted by the Mayor. The intent is an inquiry into the facts, not an adversarial action. Each witness may present his or her testimony in narrative fashion or by question and answer.
(2) The City Council or the applicant may order the hearing to be recorded by the Clerk/Treasurer, at the expense of the applicant(s).
(3) The City Council and its representatives shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence, and shall have full authority to control the procedures of the hearing including the admission or exclusion of testimony or other evidence. The City Council may admit and give probative effect to evidence which possesses probative value commonly accepted by reasonably prudent individuals. The Mayor may limit testimony where it appears incompetent, irrelevant, or unduly repetitious. If there is opposition to any application and the opposition desires the opportunity to present arguments and to cross-examine the applicant and any witnesses in favor of the application, they shall choose a spokesperson to perform the function who shall notify the Mayor of his or her representation prior to the start of the hearing.
(4) The order of the proceeding is as follows:
(a) Exhibits will be marked in advance by the Clerk/Treasurer and presented to the Mayor during the presentation;
(b) Presentation of evidence, witnesses, and arguments by applicant;
(c) Testimony of any other citizens in favor of the proposed license;
(d) Examination of applicant, witnesses, or citizens by the City Council, or duly appointed agent;
(e) Cross-examination of applicant, witnesses, or citizens by spokesperson for opposition, if any;
(f) Presentation of evidence and witnesses by opposition;
(g) Testimony of any other citizens in opposition to the proposed license;
(h) Presentation of evidence by city and law enforcement personnel;
(i) Cross-examination by applicant;
(j) Rebuttal evidence by both parties, and by city administration and agent; and
(k) Summation by applicant and opposition spokesperson, if any.
(5) In all cases, the burden of proof and persuasion shall be on the party filing the application.
(6) Any member of the City Council and the City Attorney may question any witness, call witnesses, or request information.
(7) All witnesses shall be sworn.
(8) The City Council may make further inquiry and investigation following the hearing.
(9) The City Council or the applicant may order the hearing to be recorded by the Clerk/Treasurer, at the expense of the applicant(s).
(Neb. RS 53-134) (1973 Code, § 10-124) (Ord. 571, passed 5-8-1986)