3. the Chair Should State the Format of the Hearing That Will Include

The basic steps in conducting an "open record public hearing" consistent with the general procedure are set out in WMC 14A.40.010 (copied below).

1.  The Chair will open the public hearing stating the purpose of the hearing, which can be read from the first page of the staff report.

2.  Since the hearing is a legislative public hearing instead of a quasi-judicial public hearing, there is no need for the chair to poll the commission to determine if any individual commissioners have a conflict of interest. (IE, if the Council adopts the amendments they will affect all properties in the Town and not a specific site that may me near your individual property and thus affect your value)

3.  The Chair should state the format of the hearing that will include:

a.  Presentation of the staff report

b.  Applicant presentation

c.  Public testimony

d.  Close or continue the public hearing to a date certain

e.  Commission deliberations and questions to staff

f.  Conduct a vote on the resolution.

4.  The Chair will request the staff to present the staff report.

5.  Staff will first enter exhibits into the record and then commence the staff report.

6.  Staff will complete the report and turn it back to the Chair to query the Commission to ask questions of the staff prior to receiving public testimony and presentation by the applicant.

7.  Applicant presentation. The applicant presents their application and state on the record where they agree and/or disagree with the conditions of the staff report.

8.  Public testimony.

9.  Additional questions to staff or the applicant and then officially close the public hearing noting the time.

10.  Commission deliberations and action on the resolution.

14A.04.110 Procedures for open record public hearings.

Public hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the hearing body’s rules of procedure and shall serve to create or supplement an evidentiary record upon which the body will base its decision or recommendation. The chair shall open the public hearing and, in general, observe the following sequence of events:

A.  Staff presentation, including submittal of any administrative reports. Members of the hearing body may ask questions of the staff.

B.  Applicant presentation, including submittal of any materials. Members of the hearing body may ask questions of the applicant.

C.  Testimony or comments by the public germane to the matter. Questions directed to the staff or the applicant shall be posed by the chair.

D.  Rebuttal, response, or clarifying statements by the staff and the applicant.

E.  The evidentiary portion of the public hearing shall be closed and the hearing body shall deliberate on the matter before it. (Ord. 01-412 § 1 (Exh. 1 (part)), 2001; Ord. 319 § XI, 1996)