Hearing Examiner

Purpose

Medina’s hearing examiner conducts public hearings and makes decisions or recommendations when authorized to do so under the Medina Municipal Code or by City Council. The hearing examiner reviews available information, maintains an accurate record of the proceedings, determines findings of fact from the record, and forms conclusions in support of recommendations or decisions. The decisions are made based upon consistency with the relevant law and are intended to further the best interest of the community while ensuring fairness and due process. All meetings are open to the public and are scheduled on an as-needed basis.

Hearing examiners are not city staff, but private attorneys who serve as impartial third parties. Medina Municipal Code Chapter 2.72 establishes the office and the authority of hearing examiners.

Decisions

The Hearing Examiner makes decisions on appeals of Type 1 and Type 2 administrative decisions, and Type 3 land use permits including Conditional Use Permits, Historical Use Permits, Non-administrative Right-of-Way Tree Activity Permit, Reasonable Use Exceptions, Special Use Permits, Shoreline Conditional Use Permits, Shoreline Substantial Development Permits, Shoreline Variances, and Variances.

Appeals

A Type 3 decision by a Hearing Examiner may be appealed to King County superior court by filing a land use petition within 21-days pursuant to Chapter 36.70C RCW.

An appeal of a decision relating to the Medina shoreline master program shall be to the Shoreline Hearings Board pursuant to RCW 90.58.140(6).