A. A hearing officer may be appointed by the city council whenever, in its sole discretion, it determines from an examination of the notice of appeal that a hearing on the subject of the appeal may involve a lengthy fact finding process which could be more appropriately accommodated by a formal hearing before a hearing examiner. The appointment of a hearing examiner may be made at any time prior to the time that the city council commences a hearing on the matter under appeal and may be made with or without prior notice to the appellant. The time and place of the initial hearing before the hearing examiner shall be fixed by the city council.
B. The city council may by resolution delineate one or more categories of appeal which routinely involve a lengthy fact finding process, and instruct the city clerk to schedule such appeal hearings before a hearing examiner without further action of the city council. The resolution shall include criteria for the selection of a hearing examiner. The city clerk shall inform the city council of each hearing scheduled pursuant to this subsection.
C. The city council may, at any time before a hearing examiner commences a hearing on a matter under appeal, with or without prior notice to the appellant, by motion rescind the appointment of the hearing examiner and schedule the matter under appeal for hearing before the council. (Prior code § 2.06.450)