A. Oral Evidence. All oral statements which are relevant to the subject matter of the hearing may be considered by the Council. Oral evidence may be taken on oath or affirmation at the request of any interested party or his authorized representative.

B. Exhibits and Documents. Exhibits and documents used by the City staff and any persons participating in the hearing may be considered as evidence.

C. Communications and Petitions. All communications and petitions concerning the subject matter of the hearing shall be read aloud either in full or by synopsis thereof; provided, that a reading in full shall be had at the request of any Councilmember. All such communications and petitions may be considered as evidence by the Council.

D. Staff Reports. Whenever practicable a written staff report shall be prepared and read aloud as part of the staff presentation. Said report shall be considered as evidence.

E. Maps and Displays. Large size maps and displays presented for use at the hearing shall, whenever practicable, be displayed in full view of the participants and the audience. Said maps or displays, or authentic reductions thereof, may be considered as evidence.

F. Admissible Evidence. The hearing need not be conducted to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence in civil actions. Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining other evidence, but shall not be sufficient in itself to support a decision unless it would be admissible over objection in civil actions. The rules of privilege shall be effective to the extent that they are otherwise required by statute to be recognized at the hearing, and irrelevant and unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded. (Ord. 1486 § 2, 1973; prior code § 1.225(2)).