A. Reconsideration of Decisions – Conference. Any affected employer wishing to appeal a decision regarding program approval, program exemption credit, goal modifications, adjustments, program amendments, or exemptions must request a conference with the planning director, or his or her designee, to request a reconsideration of the decision. Such a conference must be requested within ten (10) city business days of the decision, and shall be scheduled within thirty (30) days of the decision. When requesting a conference, an employer may indicate an intention to seek a recommendation from the Peer Review Board, and request that the conference be scheduled or continued after such a recommendation has been issued. The City shall issue a decision on the reconsideration request within ten (10) city business days of the completion of the conference.

B. Review of Decisions. After having initiated a conference as described in RMC 5.65.130.A, an employer may seek a review of administrative decisions on program approval, program exemption credit, goal modifications, adjustments, program amendments, or exemptions from the Peer Review Board. This Board shall be created through interlocal agreement with other jurisdictions. This Board shall include private sector members appointed by the City and shall provide equitable representation of affected employers. The procedures and rules for this Board shall be defined in the Administrative Guidelines to this chapter. This Board shall have advisory power, and evidence of its findings may be presented in decision reconsideration conferences as described in RMC 5.65.130.A, or in appeals before the City council as provided in subsection D of this section. The provisions of this subsection, and of subsection A of this section, as it relates to the Peer Review Board, shall take effect only after the Peer Review Board has been created and established through interlocal agreement with other jurisdictions.

C. Appeal of Administrative Decisions. Any person adversely affected by an administrative decision under this chapter may appeal that decision to the City council within fourteen (14) days of the decision.

D. City Council Appeals. The City council shall render a final decision in all appeals filed under subsections B and C of this section. Appellants shall be notified at least ten (10) days in advance of the date, time, and place at which the Council will consider the appeal. Administrative decisions shall be upheld if it is determined that they were consistent with this chapter, the CTR law RCW 70.94.521 through 70.94.551 and the CTR Guidelines. Appeals may be granted if the employer can show the administrative decision is not consistent with this chapter.

E. Appeals of City Council Decisions. All actions seeking judicial review of any final decision of the City council under this chapter must be filed within fourteen (14) days from the date the decision is rendered. (Ord. 2546 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2420 § 3 (part), 2008).