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right to respond, and include a copy of the completed Petition and supportive <br /> documents. Any response submitted by the responding party will be made available to <br /> the petitioning party. <br /> (f) Hearing Officer. An impartial Hearing Officer appointed by the Program <br /> Administrator shall conduct a hearing to act upon the Petition. The Hearing Officer has <br /> the following powers: <br /> 1) To make a determination on a Petition; and <br /> 2) Any other powers delegated to the Hearing Officer by the Board. <br /> (g) Board Action in Lieu of Reference to Hearing Officer. The Board, on its <br /> own motion, in the Board's sole discretion, may hold a hearing on a Petition without the <br /> Petition first being heard by a Hearing Officer. <br /> (h) Time of Hearing. Each accepted Petition shall be scheduled for a hearing <br /> by the Hearing Officer to be held on a date not more than sixty (60) days from the date <br /> the Program Administrator accepts the Petition. With agreement of the parties, the <br /> Hearing Officer may hold the hearing beyond the sixty (60) days. In no event later than <br /> ten (10) days prior to the hearing, the Hearing Officer shall notify all parties as to the <br /> time, date, and place of the hearing. <br /> (i) Consolidation. All Landlord Petitions pertaining to Tenants in the same <br /> building shall be consolidated for hearing, and all Petitions filed by Tenants occupying <br /> the same building shall be consolidated for hearing, unless the Program Administrator <br /> or Hearing Officer finds good cause not to consolidate such Petitions. <br /> 0) Right of Assistance. All parties to a hearing may have assistance in <br /> presenting evidence and developing their position from attorneys, legal workers, or any <br /> other persons designated by said parties. <br /> (k) Rules of Evidence. Formal rules of evidence shall not be applicable to <br /> hearings on Petitions. At such a hearing, the parties may offer any documents, <br /> testimony, written declarations, or other evidence that, in the opinion of the Hearing <br /> Officer, is credible and relevant to the Petition. The Hearing Officer may consider the <br /> results of inspections of the property in question and the results of any other <br /> investigations conducted by or at the request of the Hearing Officer or Program <br /> Administrator. Evidence unduly repetitious, lacking credibility, or irrelevant evidence <br /> shall be excluded upon order by the Hearing Officer. <br /> (I) Evidence. Any party may appear and offer such documents, testimony, <br /> written declarations, or other evidence as may be pertinent to the proceeding. The <br /> Hearing Officer may require either party to a Petition to provide any books, records, or <br /> papers deemed pertinent, in addition to that information contained in the Petition and <br /> Rental Registry. The Hearing Officer may request the City to conduct a current building <br /> inspection if the Hearing Officer finds good cause to believe the current information <br /> does not reflect the current condition of the Rental Unit. All documents required under <br /> 27 <br /> Resolution No. 2026-006 <br /> Page 29 of 82 <br />