The hearing bodies, whether Commission or Board, shall conduct the public review in accordance with this section.
(a) The bodies forming the Commission shall meet jointly, but all actions shall be taken by a separate vote of each body. Action may be taken only if there is a majority of the membership of each body comprising the Commission present at the public review and if a majority of the total membership of each body concurs in the action. If the bodies are unable to concur on a single recommendation, each body shall make a separate recommendation.
(b) Formal rules of evidence shall not apply to the public review of the application, but the hearing body may establish such rules as will enable the expeditious presentation of the matter and relevant information thereto. At the public review, the applicant shall be entitled to present any oral or documentary evidence relevant to the application, and the applicant shall have the burden of proof of establishing the facts necessary for the required findings. The hearing body may request any additional information it deems necessary for its decision, the cost of which, if any, shall be borne by the applicant. The hearing body shall also hear relevant evidence presented by other interested persons and entities, the Director, other County staff, and the public. The hearing body shall consider all effects that the granting of the permit application would have on the affected aquifer including, but not limited to, the hydraulic gradient, hydrology, percolation, permeability, piezometric surface, porosity, recharge, safe yield, specific capacity, spreading water, transmissivity, usable storage capacity, water table and zone of saturation. (§ 1, Ord. 1195, eff. December 26, 1996)