Item 16 - Affirmation and/or Amendment of Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance

Home Browse Search

Ordinance No. NS - ____ Page 30 of 43 (l) Evidence. Any party may appear and offer such documents, testimony, written declarations, or other evidence as may be pertinent to the proceeding. The Hearing Officer may require either party to a Petition to provide any books, records, or papers deemed pertinent, in addition to that information contained in the Petition and Rental Registry. The Hearing Officer may request the City to conduct a current building inspection if the Hearing Officer finds good cause to believe the current information does not reflect the current condition of the Rental Unit. All documents required under this section shall be made available to the parties involved prior to the hearing. In cases where information filed in a Petition or in additional submissions filed at the request of the Hearing Officer is inadequate or false, no action shall be taken on said Petition until the deficiency is remedied. (m) Quantum of Proof. The party who files the Petition shall have the burden of proof. No Petition shall be granted unless supported by the preponderance of the evidence submitted at the hearing. (n) Time for Decision. The policies and procedures adopted by the Board shall provide for final action on any Petition within a reasonable time. (o) Notice of Decision. The Hearing Officer shall make a determination on the merits of the Petition and shall provide a written statement of decision, including findings upon which the determination is based. The Hearing Officer’s decision on a Petition may be reasonably conditioned in any manner necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Article. Additionally, the parties to the hearing shall also be notified of their right to any appeal allowed by the Board and/or to judicial review of the decision pursuant to this Division. (p) Hearing Record. The record of the hearing shall include: the Petition; all exhibits, papers, and documents required to be filed or accepted into evidence during the proceedings; a list of participants present; a summary of all testimony accepted in the proceedings; a statement of all materials officially noticed; all recommended decisions, orders and/or rulings; all final decisions, orders and/or rulings; and the reasons for each final decision, order and/or ruling. All hearings shall be recorde d. (q) Appeal. Any person aggrieved by the decisions of the Hearing Officer may appeal to the Board. An appeal to the Board shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice of the decision of the Hearing Officer. On appeal, the Board shall affirm, reverse, or modify the decision of the Hearing Officer. Unless the Board elects to conduct a de novo hearing, Board review of the Hearing Officer’s decision shall be based on the hearing record without holding a new hearing. The Board may consider additional evidence for good cause, including evidence which did not exist at the time of the hearing or which could not be discovered using due diligence by a party. If no Board exists, any appeal of the Hearing Officer decision on a Petition shall proceed pursuant to the administrative appeal procedures found in Chapter 3 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code.