Opinion ID: 874537
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The City failed to properly make factual findings.

Text: Crown Point asks us to review the City's findings of fact and to find that they are not supported by substantial evidence on the record, are in violation of statutory provisions, or are made in excess of the City's statutory authority. However, we cannot review the findings for these errors because the City's revised findings of fact do not actually consist of factual findings made by the City. Therefore, we remand to the City to make proper factual findings. When a city council makes a decision it must include a reasoned statement in support of the decision. I.C. § 67-5248(1)(a). A finding of fact is a determination of a fact supported by the evidence in the record. Blacks Law Dictionary 284 (2d Pocket ed. 2001). In this case, the majority of the City's findings of fact fail to make actual factual findings; instead, the findings merely recite portions of the record which could be used in support of a finding. For instance, Findings 7(a) and 7(b) merely state that Crown Point's Phase 5 applications contain certain information about the size of the units. Additionally, several of the findings consist of nothing more than a recitation of testimony given in the record. By reciting testimony, a court or agency does not find a fact unless the testimony is unrebutted in which case the court or agency should so state. A finding of fact is a determination of a fact by the court [or agency], which fact is averred by one party and denied by the other and this determination must be founded on the evidence in the case. C.I.T. Corp. v. Elliott, 66 Idaho 384, 397, 159 P.2d 891, 897 (1945) (internal quotations and citation omitted). Indeed, nothing listed under Finding 7 can be said to be a factual finding made by the City. The findings of fact do not determine any facts; they are only recitations of evidence which could be used to support a finding without an affirmative statement that the agency is finding the fact testified to. Thus, we remand this matter to the City so that it can make proper factual findings.