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County staff recommends switching appeals and variances to contracted hearing officer model; commissioners ask for cost estimates
Summary
Staff proposed replacing the volunteer Board of Adjustment with a paid hearing officer for appeals and variance hearings, recommending at least two contracted officers and higher variance fees to cover costs; commissioners generally supported exploring the change but asked staff for expenditure projections before procurement.
County staff asked commissioners whether they would favor replacing the volunteer Board of Adjustment with a contracted hearing officer model for appeals and variance requests. Staff said an appointed hearing officer would operate more like a judicial body (not a public board) and allow flexible scheduling, avoid quorum problems and be administratively efficient.
Staff recommended soliciting proposals and contracting for at least two officers to alternate as needed, and suggested keeping the appeals fee at $500 while raising variance fees to $1,000 to offset costs. Commissioners generally supported the idea as a service improvement but requested a quick cost projection for the first year to determine whether an immediate procurement is required or if a direct approach to a highly recommended candidate could be justified.
Why it matters: shifting to a hearing officer model changes how land-use appeals and variances are heard, transfers compensation costs from volunteer time to contract payments, and may speed case resolution.
Next steps: staff will prepare proposed ordinance changes and gather cost estimates and procurement options; commissioners asked staff to return with a one-year cost projection and a recommended procurement timeline.
