19.05.007 Order of proceedings.
The order of proceedings for a hearing will depend in part on the nature of the hearing. The following shall be supplemented by administrative procedures as appropriate.
A. Before receiving testimony and other evidence on the issue, the following shall be determined:
1. Any objections on jurisdictional grounds shall be noted on the record and if there is objection, the hearing body may proceed or terminate the proceeding;
2. Any member disqualifications shall be determined.
B. The presiding officer may take official notice of commonly known and accepted information, such as:
1. Ordinances, resolutions, rules, officially adopted development standards, and state law;
2. Public records and facts judicially noticeable by law.
C. Information officially noticed need not be proved by submission of formal evidence to be considered by the hearing body. Parties requesting official notice of any information shall do so on the record. The hearing body, however, may take notice of matters listed in subsection B of this section at any time. Any information given official notice may be rebutted.
D. The hearing body may view the proposed project site or planning area with or without notification to the parties, but shall put into the record a statement setting forth the time, manner and circumstances of the site visit.
E. Information shall be received from the staff and from proponents and opponents. The presiding officer may, in his or her discretion, permit persons attending the hearing to ask questions. Unless the presiding officer specifies otherwise, approved questions will be asked of persons submitting testimony by the presiding officer.
F. When the presiding officer has closed the public hearing portion of the hearing, the hearing body may openly discuss the issue and may further question the staff or any person submitting information. An opportunity to present rebuttal shall be provided if new information is presented in the questioning. When all evidence has been presented and all questioning and rebuttal completed, the presiding officer shall officially close the record and end the hearing. (Ord. 806 § 23, 1998; Ord. 711 § 1, 1996).