The land use hearing examiner system is intended to provide an expeditious adjudicatory process in the land use arena which affords procedural due process and fundamental fairness.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)
The County, through its Board of County Commissioners, shall appoint a chief hearing examiner and such other deputy examiners or pro tempore examiners as are necessary to perform the duties assigned. Such appointments shall be upon mutually acceptable terms.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)
The chief examiner and every deputy examiner shall be appointed for an initial term of one year. Thereafter, upon reappointment, the term of office shall be for four years. Pro tempore examiners shall serve as specified in each appointment.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)
An examiner shall be appointed based solely upon his or her qualifications and shall have such previous training and experience as will qualify the examiner to fairly conduct administrative and quasi-judicial hearings upon land use matters consistent with the job description and qualifications identified for this position.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)
Examiners shall perform those duties designated by ordinance or statute. Initially this shall include quasi-judicial matters now heard by the Planning Commission.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)
No person, including county officials and employees, shall attempt to influence an examiner upon any matter pending or likely to be brought before such examiner except at a public hearing at which the matter is to be considered; provided, if requested by an examiner, the prosecuting attorney may provide advice on questions of law.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)
An examiner shall not hear and shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which his or her impartiality could reasonably be questioned. In applying the foregoing standard an examiner shall adhere to the guidelines contained in Canon 3c of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
In the event of a disqualification the disqualified examiner shall transfer the proceeding to another examiner or, if there is no other qualified examiner, to the Kittitas County Planning Commission.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)
The chief hearing examiner shall have the following additional duties:
1. 
Administrative responsibility over deputy and pro tempore hearing examiners which shall include the assignment of cases;
2. 
The promulgation of rules as provided in Section 2.10.120;
3. 
Annually, the chief examiner shall produce a written report which shall contain:
a. 
A summary of decisions made within the hearing examiner system;
b. 
Recommendations for improving the hearing examiner system;
c. 
Other observations and recommendations pertaining to land use policies or legislation.
(Ord. 2007-37, 2007)