Parties of Record

All persons who would like to become a Party of Record, are invited to testify at the public hearing to express their views, or to submit written testimony at the hearing. Only Parties of Record will have the right to request reconsideration of the Hearing Examiner's decision and/or appeal to the City Council. You may also submit written comments (email is acceptable) prior to the hearing and not later than 5:00 PM the day of the hearing, by contacting the specific Planner for the project.

Ex Parte Contacts

Private contact with a decision maker such as the Hearing Examiner or an elected official is termed "ex parte contact". The Hearing Examiner staff screens all correspondence and telephone calls to the Hearing Examiner to ensure that prohibited contacts are not made. Similarly, ex parte contact with a member of the Council for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the case on appeal can lead to that Councilmember disqualifying themselves, or could invalidate the proceeding.

Hearings by the Hearing Examiner are quasi-judicial proceedings. They are defined by state statute to be "...those actions of a legislative body, planning commission, Hearing Examiner, zoning adjuster, board of adjustment, which determine the legal rights, duties, or privileges of specific parties in a hearing or other contested case proceeding." RCW 42.36.010. Quasi-judicial hearings have a partly judicial character by possession of the right to hold hearings on and conduct investigations into disputed claims and alleged infraction of rules and regulations and to make decisions in the manner of courts.

Testimony and Participation

All City of Redmond public hearings are open to the public and anyone may participate. In appeal hearings, only parties directly involved with the appeal may testify or participate.

All testimony is required to be under oath or affirmation. Testimony at hearings conducted by the Hearing Examiner is not as formal as in a judicial proceeding. Individuals are sworn in either individually or as a group.

To present information at a hearing: 

• simply state directly and succinctly, relevant information or argument
• speak to the specific issues of the project
• if you have alternative ideas, suggest them
• focus on how the project meets or does not meet City standards or codes
• submit and provide any evidence you have prepared (bring extra copies to submit into the record)