A. Administrative Hearings are intended to be informal in nature. Formal rules of evidence and discovery do not apply. Other than copies of citations, notices, orders, and inspection reports served on the Responsible Parties as part of the enforcement action giving rise to the hearing, no pre-hearing discovery is required.
B. The City bears the burden of proof at an Administrative Hearing to establish the existence of a violation of the Municipal Code and the Responsible Party's responsibility for such violation. The administrative citation and any additional documents submitted by the Enforcement Officer shall constitute prima facie evidence of the respective facts contained in those documents.
C. The standard of proof to be used by the Administrative Hearing Officer in deciding the issues at an Administrative Hearing is by a preponderance of the evidence.
D. Each party shall have the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and present relevant evidence in support of that party's case.
E. The Responsible Party may bring an interpreter to the hearing at his or her sole expense. The City may, at its discretion, record the hearing by stenographer, court reporter, audio recording, or video recording.
(Ord. MC-1553, 2-17-21)