(a) Any administrative adjudication proceeding conducted by the department of administrative hearings shall afford the parties an opportunity for a hearing before an administrative law officer. When the Director of Administrative Hearings determines it advisable, and a respondent agrees to proceed in that format, hearings may be held by video or audio conference in place of in-person hearings.
(b) An attorney who appears on behalf of any person shall file with the administrative law officer a written appearance on a form provided by the department of administrative hearings for such purpose.
(c) In no event shall the case for the city be presented by an employee of the department of administrative hearings; provided, however, that documentary evidence, including the notice of violation, which has been prepared by another department or agency of the city, may be presented at the hearing by the administrative law officer.
(d) The administrative law officer may grant continuances only upon a finding of good cause.
(e) All testimony shall be given under oath or affirmation.
(f) The administrative law officer may issue subpoenas to secure the attendance and testimony of relevant witnesses and the production of relevant documents. Issuance of subpoenas shall be subject to the restrictions contained in Section 2-14-080.
(g) Subject to subsection (j) of this section, the administrative law officer may permit witnesses to submit their testimony by affidavit or by telephone.
(h) The formal and technical rules of evidence shall not apply in the conduct of the hearing. Evidence, including hearsay, may be admitted only if it is of a type commonly relied upon by reasonably prudent persons in the conduct of their affairs.
(i) No violation may be established except upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence; provided, however, that a violation notice, or a copy thereof, issued and signed in accordance with 2-14-074 shall be prima facie evidence of the correctness of the facts specified therein.
(j) Upon the timely request of any party to the proceeding, any person, who the administrative law officer determines may reasonably be expected to provide testimony which is material and which does not constitute a needless presentation of cumulative evidence, shall be made available for cross-examination prior to a final determination of liability.
(k) The record of all hearings before an administrative law officer shall include: (i) a record of the testimony presented at the hearing, which may be made by tape recording or other appropriate means; (ii) all documents presented at the hearing; (iii) a copy of the notice of violation or notice of hearing; and (iv) a copy of the findings and decision of the administrative law officer.
(l) Upon conclusion of a hearing, the administrative law officer shall issue a final determination of liability or no liability. Upon issuing a final determination of liability the administrative law officer may: (i) impose penalties and/or fines that are consistent with applicable provisions of the Municipal Code; (ii) issue orders that are consistent with applicable provisions of the Municipal Code; and/or (iii) assess costs reasonably related to instituting the administrative adjudication proceeding; provided, however, that in no event shall the administrative law officer have the authority to impose a penalty of imprisonment or, except in cases to enforce the collection of any tax imposed and collected by the city, where this limitation shall not apply, impose a fine in excess of $50,000.00 exclusive of costs of enforcement or costs imposed to secure compliance with this Code.
(m) In the issuance of a final determination of liability, an administrative law officer shall inform the respondent of his or her right to seek judicial review of the final determination.
(Added Coun. J. 7-10-96, p. 24982; Amend Coun. J. 11-12-97, p. 56813; Amend Coun. J. 4-29-98, p. 66564; Amend Coun. J. 7-21-21, p. 32789, § 1)