Procedures relating to hearing officers and decisions are set forth below:
(A) The city manager or his or her designee shall establish procedures for the selection of a hearing officer in accordance with this section. A hearing officer shall be a neutral third-party contracted by the City and selected in a manner that avoids the potential for any bias against any parties to the hearing. The hearing officer's compensation and costs shall be paid by the City. The hearing officer's compensation and/or employment shall not be directly or indirectly conditioned upon the outcome of the hearing.
(B) Not later than thirty (30) days after the date the administrative hearing concludes, or in the case of a hearing by written declaration, not later than thirty (30) days after all necessary briefing and evidence is received, the hearing officer shall issue a written decision to uphold, modify, or dismiss the contested administrative citation. Failure by the hearing officer to strictly comply with this provision shall not invalidate the administrative citation or the decision.
(C) The decision shall set forth the facts relied on, the legal standards, and the reasons for the decision along with notice of the right to appeal and shall be served on the appealing responsible party and the enforcement officer. The decision shall be final. Failure to receive the decision shall not invalidate the administrative citation or the decision.
(D) All upheld and awarded administrative fines shall be paid by the responsible parties to the City within twenty (20) days from the date the decision is served. (Ord. 852-23, 7-18-2023)