Source: https://www.codepublishing.com/AK/Palmer/html/Palmer17/Palmer1798.html
Timestamp: 2018-11-16 10:23:50
Document Index: 261014536

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 34', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 5']

Chapter 17.98 APPEALS TO HEARING OFFICER
APPEALS TO HEARING OFFICER
17.98.005 Definitions.
17.98.010 Hearing officer.
17.98.015 Stay on appeal.
17.98.020 Notice of appeal – Appeal fee.
17.98.030 Preparation of appeal record.
17.98.040 Written arguments.
17.98.050 Distribution of appeal packet – Notice of hearing.
17.98.060 Conduct of hearing.
17.98.070 Scope of review.
17.98.080 Decision.
17.98.090 Remedies.
“Appeal packet” means the packet which contains the notice of hearing date, appeal letter, the appeal record and briefs.
“Appeal record” consists of the entire community development file pertaining to the case under appeal, including all original papers and exhibits, and the transcript of the proceedings before the commission.
“Appellant” means the party who files an appeal application pursuant to this title.
“Appellee” means the party responding to the appeal application.
“Interested persons” means any person who would be adversely affected by the decision. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. To be appointed as a hearing officer, a person must be an attorney at law in the state of Alaska who possesses knowledge of this title, general land use regulations, and principles of due process. An attorney may not act as hearing officer in any case in which he or she has any direct or indirect financial interest, and must certify to the absence of any such interest before receiving the appeal record on a form provided by the clerk. A hearing officer may not be a current city employee or a current member of the council or commission.
B. A hearing officer shall be impartial in all decisions, both in fact and in appearance. The hearing officer shall not engage in ex parte contact with any person concerning the appeal either before or after the appeal hearing.
C. The manager or clerk shall solicit persons who are willing to serve as hearing officers, and shall maintain a list of interested persons determined to be qualified.
D. Upon an appeal being filed, the manager shall appoint the hearing officer and shall report the appointment to the council.
E. Compensation of the hearing officer shall be determined by council legislation prior to the hearing. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
An appeal stays the decision or order appealed until a written decision is rendered by the hearing officer; provided, that the hearing officer may, upon motion, vacate the stay if it is determined to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. As set forth in this title, a decision of the commission may be appealed by filing an appeal application with the clerk on a form provided by the clerk. The appeal application shall clearly state the grounds of the appeal, and include the appellant’s mailing address or that of the appellant’s representative.
B. Except as provided in subsection (C) of this section:
1. An appeal application shall include a nonrefundable filing fee, established in the current, adopted budget, and a deposit, established in the current, adopted budget, for preparation of the appeal record, advertising and mailing costs.
2. Upon receipt of the appeal record, the clerk shall reasonably determine the cost of preparation of the appeal record, advertising and mailing costs. If the costs exceed the amount of the deposit, the clerk shall invoice the appellant for the excess. The invoice shall be paid within 15 business days of receipt of the invoice by the appellant or the appeal will be dismissed. The clerk shall return to the appellant all amounts in excess of the actual costs of preparing the appeal record, advertising and mailing.
C. Within the time frame for filing the appeal application, an appellant may request the city waive payment of part or all of the fee and costs described in subsection (B) of this section because of the appellant’s indigence. The request shall include a sworn financial statement in a form approved by the clerk. The clerk will grant or deny the request based on a determination of whether the appellant is indigent. (Ord. 07-029 § 34, 2007; Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. Upon the timely filing of an appeal, the clerk shall request the record from the city staff. The city staff shall provide the record to the clerk within 30 calendar days of the request. The record shall contain all pertinent records including:
1. A verbatim transcript of the proceedings before the commission from which the appeal has been taken.
2. Copies of all documentary evidence, memoranda and exhibits, correspondence and other written material submitted to the commission prior to the decision from which the appeal is taken.
3. A copy of the written decision of the commission, including its findings and conclusions.
B. Upon completion of the record, the clerk shall mail or personally serve the appeal record on the hearing officer, the appellant, the applicant, if not the appellant, and each other interested person who has submitted a written request for a copy of the appeal record. Interested persons requesting a copy of the record shall be charged on a per page basis. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. Brief of Appellant. The appellant may file a written brief of points and authorities in support of those allegations of error specified in the appeal letter with the clerk’s office not later than 15 calendar days after service of the appeal record. The clerk shall mail or otherwise deliver a copy of the appellant’s brief to the city staff and hearing officer assigned responsibility for the appeal.
B. Brief of Appellee. The appellee may submit to the clerk a written reply to the appeal letter and any brief no later than 30 calendar days after service of the appeal record. The clerk shall mail or otherwise deliver a copy of the appellee’s brief to the appellant, city staff and hearing officer assigned responsibility for the appeal.
C. Reply Brief. The appellant may file a written reply brief to appellee briefs submitted pursuant to subsection (B) of this section. The appellant’s reply brief is due no later than 10 calendar days after service of notice that the appellee briefs have been filed.
D. Form of Briefs. All briefs shall be typewritten on eight-and-one-half-inch by 11-inch pages. The text of the brief shall be double-spaced other than quotations from the record, case law or other applicable law or exhibits which cannot be retyped on eight-and-one-half-inch by 11-inch pages. The brief of the appellant is limited to 25 pages exclusive of exhibits. The brief of the appellee is limited to 25 pages exclusive of exhibits. The reply brief is limited to 10 pages exclusive of exhibits. The clerk shall not accept a brief unless it is in the form prescribed by this section and filed within the time prescribed by this section. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
Following the time set for receipt of written arguments from the appellant and appellee, the clerk shall prepare and distribute to the hearing officer an appeal packet containing the notice of appeal, the appeal record, written comments by interested parties, and any briefs filed in accordance with PMC 17.98.040. Notice of the hearing date shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation and shall be mailed or personally served to the appellant and appellee. Interested persons requesting a copy of the record shall be charged on a per page basis. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. The meeting at which the hearing officer hears an appeal shall be open to the public and a record of the hearing shall be made.
B. The hearing shall be subject to the following order and time limitations:
1. City staff: 10 minutes to present the decision of the commission;
2. Appellant: 15 minutes;
3. Appellee: 15 minutes;
4. Interested persons: three minutes each;
5. Appellant, for rebuttal: five minutes.
C. The hearing officer may question each of the parties listed under subsection (B) of this section.
D. The hearing officer may adjourn the hearing for deliberative purposes. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. The hearing officer shall hear an appeal solely on the basis of the appeal packet and oral testimony as described in PMC 17.98.060(B).
B. The hearing officer may exercise his or her independent judgment on legal issues raised by the appellant. The term “legal issues,” as used in this section, means those matters that relate to the interpretation or construction of ordinances or other provisions of law.
C. The hearing officer shall defer to the judgment of the commission regarding disputed issues or findings of fact unless a substitution of his or her independent judgment pursuant to subsection (D) of this section is made. Findings of fact adopted expressly or by necessary implication by the commission may be considered as true if they are supported in the record by substantial evidence. The term “substantial evidence,” for the purpose of this section, means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. If the record affords a substantial basis of fact from which the fact in issue may be reasonably inferred, it shall be considered that the fact is supported by substantial evidence.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (C) of this section, the hearing officer may substitute his or her independent judgment for that of the commission on any disputed issues or findings of fact. Such judgment must be supported on the record by substantial evidence. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. The hearing officer shall decide an appeal on the basis of the appeal packet, in accordance with the standards of PMC 17.98.070.
B. The hearing officer may affirm or reverse the decision of the commission in whole or in part. A decision reversing or modifying the decision appealed from shall be in a form which finally disposes of the case on appeal except where the case is remanded in accordance with PMC 17.98.090(A).
C. Every decision of the hearing officer to affirm or reverse the decision of the commission pursuant to subsection (A) of this section shall be in writing and shall be based upon and include findings and conclusions adopted by the hearing officer. Such findings must be reasonably specific so as to provide the community, and, where appropriate, reviewing authorities, a clear and precise understanding of the reason for the hearing officer’s decision. The hearing officer may seek the assistance of the city staff in the preparation of findings.
D. Every final decision of the hearing officer shall clearly state it is a final decision with respect to all issues involved in the case, and that the parties have 30 days from the date of mailing, or other distribution of the decision, to file an appeal to the superior court.
E. A decision by the hearing officer to remand the case on one or more issues, in accordance with PMC 17.98.090(A), is not a final decision with respect to any issue involved in the appeal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all matters decided by the hearing officer (except those remanded pursuant to PMC 17.98.090) will be deemed a final decision following the lower administrative body’s decision, provided no appeal is perfected within the time period specified in PMC 17.72.080.
F. A hearing officer’s decision remanding a case on one or more issues, in accordance with PMC 17.98.090(A), will include the following statements:
1. The decision is the final decision with respect to all matters resolved therein when, following the lower administrative body’s decision on remand, no appeal is perfected within the time period specified in this section; and
2. The parties have 30 calendar days from the expiration of said time period to appeal to the superior court. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)
A. Where the hearing officer reverses or modifies a decision of the commission in whole or in part, its decision shall finally dispose of the matter on appeal, except that the case shall be remanded to the commission where the hearing officer determines either that:
1. There is insufficient evidence in the record on an issue material to the decision of the case; or
2. There has been a substantial procedural error which requires further public hearing.
A decision remanding a case shall describe any issue on which further evidence should be taken, and shall set forth any further directions the hearing officer deems appropriate for the guidance of the commission.
B. The commission shall act on the case upon remand in accordance with the decision of the hearing officer in the minimum time allowed by the circumstances. Cases on remand following a decision of the hearing officer shall take precedence over all other matters on the commission’s agenda. (Ord. 07-018 § 5, 2007)