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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 />(1) 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 />26 <br />