1427_00001ORDINANCENO.1427
AN ORDINANCE REPEALINGCHAPTER 18.78 OF THE MOSESLAKE
MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED"ZONINGBOARD OF ADJUSTMENT"
AND CREATINGA NEW CHAPTER 18.80 OF THE MOSES LAKE
MUNICIPALCODE ENTITLED"HEARINGEXAMINER"
THECITYCOUNCILOF THECITYOF MOSESLAKE,WASHINGTONDOORDAINASFOLLOWS:
O Section 1.Chapter 18.78 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled"2oningBoard ofAdjustment"
is hereby repealed in its entirely.
Section 2.Chapter 18.80 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled"HearingExaminer"is herebycreatedasfollows:
18.80.010 Creation:Pursuant to the authority conferredby RCW35A.63.170,as amended,there willbecreatedthepositionofHearingExaminer.TheHearingExaminer shallinterpret,review,and implement land use regulationsas providedin this ordinance and other ordinances.The term Hearing Examiner shalllikewise include the HearingExaminer Pro-Tem.
18.80.020 Accointment:The Hearing Examinerand Hearing ExaminerPro-Tem shallbe appointed
by the City Manager.The Hearing Examinershall serve at the pleasure of the CityManager.
18.80.030 Compensation:The Hearing Examiner and HearingExaminer Pro-Temmay be classified
as regular,part-timeemployees orthecitymay contract withthe HearingExaminer andHearingExaminerPro-Tem for the performance ofthe duties described in this ordinance.The compensationto be paidthe HearingExaminer and HearingExaminer Pro-Tem shallbethatestablishedintheannualcitybudget.
18.80.040 Oualifications:The Hearing Examinerand Hearing ExaminerPro-Tem shall be appointedsolelywithregardtotheirqualificationsforthedutiesoftheofficewhichshallinclude,butnotbelimitedto,persons with appropriate educational experience such as an urbanplannerwithatleastfive(5)years experience,persons who have extensiveexperience in
O planningwork in a responsible capacity,and persons with legal experience,particularlywherethatexperienceisintheareaoflandusemanagementoradministrativelaw.
18.80.050 Hearinq Examiner Pro-Tem Qualificationsand Duties:The Hearing Examiner Pro-Temshall,In the event ofthe absence or the inabilityofthe HearingExaminer to act,have allthedutiesandpowersoftheHearingExaminer.
18.80.060 Membership:The Hearing Examiner shall not be a member of the City Councilor thePlanningCommission.
18.80.070 Conflictof Interest and Freedom From Improcer Influence:
A.The HearingExaminer shallnot conduct or participatein any hearingor decision inwhichtheHearingExaminerhasadirectorindirectpersonalinterestwhichmightexertsuchinfluenceupontheHearingExamirierthatmightinterferewithhisorherdecisionmakingprocess.Any actual or potential conflictof Interest shall bedisclosedtothepartiesimmediatelyupondiscoveryofsuchconflict.The hearingshallthenbeconductedbytheHearingExaminerPro-Tem.
B.Participants Inthe land use regulatoryprocess havethe right,insofaras possible,tohavetheHearingExaminerfreefrompersonalinterestorpre-hearingcontacts onlanduseregulatorymattersconsideredbyhimorher.Itis recognizedthat there is
a countervallingpublicrightto free access to publicofficialson any matter.Ifsuchpersonalorpre-hearing interest contact impairs the Hearing Examiner's ability to actonthematter,such person shallso state and shallabstain therefromto the end thattheproceedingisfairandhastheappearanceoffairness.
18.80.080 Freedom From Improoer Influence:NoCouncilmember,cityofficial,or any other personshallattempttointerferewith,or improperlyinfluence the Hearing Examiner in theperformanceofhisorherdesignatedduties.
18.80.090 Duties:The Hearing Examinershall be empowered to hear and decide any and allrequestsforavarianceofthecityplan,pursuantto the limitationsofRCW35A.63.110(2).Any decisionofthe HearingExaminer,on a variance,shallbe finaland conclusiveunlesssuchdecisionisappealedassetfrothin18.80.150(A).The Councilshallthen hear anyappealoftheHearingExaminerwithintwenty(20)days of such request.For the CounciltooverturnadecisionoftheHearingExaminer,itwillrequirea vote of a simplemajorityplusoneofthememberspresentattheCouncilmeeting.
ORD.1427
18.80.100 Applications:Applications for all matters to be heard by the Hearing Examinershall be
presented to the MunicipalServices Department-CommunityDevelopment Division.
When it is found an applicationmeetsthe filing requirementsofthe CommunityDevelop-
mentDivision,it shallbe accepted.The Divisionshall be responsible for assigninga dateforapublichearingforeachapplication,which date shall not be more than thirty (30)days after the applicant has compliedwithall requirements and fumished all necessarydatatotheCommunityDevelopmentDivision.
18.80.110 Reportby Municipal ServicesDepartment -CommunityDevelopment DMsion:When suchapplicationhasbeensetforpubilchearing,the CommunityDevelopment DMslon shall
coordinateand assemble the comments and recommendations ofother citydepartmentsandgovernmentalagencieshavinganinterestinthesubjectapplicationandshallprepareareportsummarizingthefactsinvolvedandtheCommunityDevelopmentDivision's
findings and supportive recommendations.At least seven (7)calendar days priorto the
scheduled hearing,the report shallbe filed with the HearingExaminer and copies thereofshallbemailedtotheapplicantandshallbemadeavailableforusebyanyinterested
party for the cost of reproduction.
18.80.120 PublicHearinq:Before renderinga decisionor recommendation on any application,the
HearingExaminershall hold at least one (1)publichearingthereon.
A,Notice of the timeand place ofthe publichearing shallbe givenas provided in the
ordinance goveming the application.Ifnone is specifically set forth,such notice
shall be givenat least ten (10)days prior to such hearing.
B.The Hearing Examiner shall have the power to prescribe rules and regulations forthe
conduct ofhearings under thisordinance and also to administer oaths and preserveorder.
18.80.130 Decision -Findings Required:When the Hearing Examiner renders a decision,the
HearingExaminershallmake and enter written findingsfromthe record and conclusions
therefromwhich support such decision,whichdecisionshallbe renderedon thetenth (10)dayfollowingthe conclusionofthehearing.The copy ofsuch decision,including findings
and conclusions,shall be transmitted by certifiedmail,return receipt requested,to the
applicantand other parties of record requestingthe same.
18.80.140 Reconsideration:Anyaggrievedperson feeling thatthe decision ofthe Hearing Examiner
is based on erroneous procedures,errors of law or fact,error in judgment,or the
discovery of newevidence whichcould not be reasonably available at the priorhearing,
may make a writtenrequest for reconsideration by the Hearing Examiner within ten (10)days ofthe date the decision is rendered.This request shall set forth the specificerrors
or new information relied upon by such appellant,and the Hearing Examiner may,after
reviewof the record,takefurtheraction as he or she deems proper.
18.80.150 Appealof Hearing Examiner's Decision:
A.Any paity who feels aggrieved bythe Examiner's decision may submit an appeat in
writingto the MunicipalServices Department -CommunityDevelopment Division
within ten (10)days fromthe date the final decision ofthe Hearing Examiner is ren-
dered,requesting a review ofsuch decision.The CommunityDevelopment Division
ofthe Municipal ServicesDepartment will submitthe appeal to the CityCouncil for
consideration.
B.Suchappeal shallbe upon the record establishedand made at the hearing held by
the HearingExaminer.Whenevera decision of the Hearing Examiner isrevlewedby
the Council pursuant to this section,other parties of record may submit written
memoranda In support of their positions.In addition,the Councilshall allow each
side no more than fifteen(15)minutes of oral presentation.However,no new
evidenceortestimonyshallbe presented to the Councilduringsuch oral presenta-
tion.The Councilshall accept,modify,or reject any findings or conclusions,or
remandthe decisionof the Hearing Examiner for further hearing;provided that anydecisionoftheCouncilshallbebasedontherecordofthehearingconductedbythe
Hearing Examiner;however,the Councilmaypubliclyrequest additionalinformation
ofthe appellant and the Hearing Examiner at its discretion.
C.Upon such written appeal being filed withinthe time period allotted and upon
payment of fees as required,a reviewshall be held by the Council.Such review
shall be held in accordance with appeal procedures adopted by the Council by
resolution.
D.Further action by the Hearing Examiner shall be within thirty (30)days of the
reconsiderationrequest.
ORD.1427
18.80.160 CouncilAction:
A.Whentakingany action on appeal,the Councushall makeand enter findings of factfromtherecordandconclusionstherefromwhichsupportitsaction.The Council
may adopt all or portions oftheHearingExaminer's findingsand conclusions.
B.The actionofthe Councilapproving,modifying,orrejectinga decisionofthe HearingExaminer,shallbe finaland conclusive,unless withintwenty (20)days from the dateoftheCouncilactionanaggrievedpartyorpersonappliesforawritofcertioraritoOtheSuperiorCourtofWashingtonforGrantCounty,forthe purpose of reviewoftheactiontaken.
18.80.170 Severgbility:Theprovisions ofthis ordinanceare hereby declaredto be severable.Ifanyword,phrase,clause,sentence,paragraph,section,or part in or of thisordinance,or theapplicationthereoftoanypersonorcircumstanceisdeclaredinvalid,the remainingprovisionsandtheapplicationofsuchprovisionstootherpersonsorcircumstancesshallnotbeaffectedthereby,but shallremain in fullforce and effect.
18.80.180 Computationof Time:Computationof any period oftime prescribed or allowedby theserulesshallbeginwiththefirstdayfollowingthatonwhichtheactoreventinitîatingsuchperiodoftimeshallhaveoccurred.Whenthe last day of the period so computed is aSaturday,Sunday,or national orstate holiday,the periodshallrun until the end of the nextfollowingbusinessday.
18.80.190 Repealinq ConflictingOrdinances:Anyand all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconflictherewithareherebyrepealed.
Section 3.This ordinance shalltakeeffectand be in force five (5)days after its passage and publication
as providedby law.
Adopted by the City
e ATTEST:
Finance Director
APPROVED ASTOFORM:
ty Attorney
PUBLISHED:5/11/90
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