Opinion ID: 889830
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: standard of review

Text: ¶ 65 In an appeal brought under § 76-3-625(2), MCA, the standard of review to be applied by the district court and this Court is whether the record establishes that the governing body acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or unlawfully. Kiely Constr. LLC v. City of Red Lodge, 2002 MT 241, ¶ 69, 312 Mont. 52, 57 P.3d 836; Aspen Trails Ranch, LLC v. Simmons, 2010 MT 79, ¶ 31, 356 Mont. 41, 230 P.3d 808. The governing body's action is unlawful if it fails to comply with the requirements of applicable statutes. See Aspen Trails, ¶ 56; Citizens for Responsible Dev. v. Bd. of County Commrs., 2009 MT 182, ¶ 26, 351 Mont. 40, 208 P.3d 876; North Fork Preservation Assn. v. Dept. of State Lands, 238 Mont. 451, 464, 778 P.2d 862, 870 (1989). The governing body's action is arbitrary and capricious if it came about seemingly at random or by chance, or as an impulsive and unreasonable act of will. See Silva v. City of Columbia Falls, 258 Mont. 329, 335, 852 P.2d 671, 675 (1993); Kiely, ¶ 69. In making this determination, the reviewing court must consider whether the governing body's decision was based on a consideration of the relevant factors and whether there has been a clear error of judgment. North Fork, 238 Mont. at 465, 778 P.2d at 871; see also e.g. Aspen Trails, ¶¶ 56-57. ¶ 66 Review of the governing body's action is generally limited to the record before the governing body at the time of its decision. Kiely, ¶ 97; Aspen Trails, ¶¶ 61-67 (Rice, J., concurring), and cases discussed therein; cf. § 2-4-704(1), MCA (review of an agency decision must be confined to the record). In Skyline Sportsmen's Assn. v. Bd. of Land Commrs., 286 Mont. 108, 951 P.2d 29 (1997), we concluded that it was appropriate for the district court in that case to accept new evidence and not to limit its review to the administrative record. See id. at 113, 951 P.2d at 32 (citing Asarco, Inc. v. U.S. EPA, 616 F.2d 1153, 1160 (9th Cir. 1980)). It should be noted, however, that the Asarco court limited the use of extra-record evidence to three purposes: for background information; for ascertaining whether the agency considered all the relevant factors; or for ascertaining whether the agency fully explicated its course of conduct or grounds of decision. 616 F.2d at 1160. The court stated that [c]onsideration of the evidence to determine the correctness or wisdom of the agency's decision is not permitted, even if the court has also examined the administrative record. Id.