§ 5.66.110. Hearings.

Any investigation, inquiry or hearing which the City Manager has power to undertake or to hold may be undertaken or held by such member of the City Manager's staff as he or she may designate and to whom the matter is assigned. The person to whom a matter is assigned shall be deemed a "Hearing Officer." In any matter so assigned the Hearing Officer conducting the investigation, inquiry or hearing within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the investigation, inquiry or hearing shall report his or her findings and recommendations to the City Manager.

Within sixty (60) days after the filing of the findings and recommendations of the Hearing Officer the City Manager shall confirm, adopt, modify or set aside the findings of the Hearing Officer and with or without notice enter his or her order, findings, decision or award based upon the record in the case.

In such hearings, investigations, and inquiries by the City Manager or a Hearing Officer, he or she shall not be bound in the conduct thereof by the common law or statutory rules of evidence and procedure but inquiry shall be made in the manner, through oral testimony and records, which is best calculated to ascertain the substantial rights of the public and parties and carry out justly the spirit and provisions of this chapter.

No informality in any proceeding or the manner of taking testimony shall invalidate any order, decision, award or rule made as specified in this chapter. No order, decision, award or rule shall be invalidated because of the admission into the record and the use of any proof of any fact in dispute of any evidence not admissible under the common law or statutory rules of evidence and procedure.

(Prior code § 3-16.11)