RCW 58.17.330: Hearing examiner system—Adoption authorized—Procedures—Decisions.

(1) As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter requiring a planning commission to hear and issue recommendations for plat approval, the county or city legislative body may adopt a hearing examiner system and shall specify by ordinance the legal effect of the decisions made by the examiner. The legal effect of such decisions shall include one of the following:

(a) The decision may be given the effect of a recommendation to the legislative body;

(b) The decision may be given the effect of an administrative decision appealable within a specified time limit to the legislative body; or

(c) The decision may be given the effect of a final decision of the legislative body.

The legislative authority shall prescribe procedures to be followed by a hearing examiner.

(2) Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the record, to support the decision. Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a longer period is mutually agreed to by the applicant and the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.