5.4 Any employe, agent, or officer of the city shall disclose his or her <br /> rel ionship to the city when commencing to testify. <br /> 5.5 Formal rules of evidence as used in courts of law shall not apply. <br /> Evi ence that is not reliable, probative and useful may be excluded at the discretion <br /> of t e hearings official. <br /> 5.6 Audience demonstrations such as applause, cheering, display of signs, <br /> and other conduct disruptive of the hearing shall not be permitted. Any such <br /> con uct may be cause for immediate suspension of the hearing or removal of <br /> dis ptive persons. <br /> 6. Hearings Official. The hearings official shall: <br /> 6.1 Regulate the course and decorum of the hearing. <br /> 6.2 Dispose of procedural requests or similar matters. <br /> 6.3 Rule on offers of proof and relevancy, reliability, competency or <br /> use ulness of evidence and testimony. <br /> 6.4 Impose reasonable limitations on the number of witnesses to be heard <br /> and set reasonable time limits for oral presentation, questioning of witnesses, and <br /> reb ttal testimony. <br /> 6.5 Take other action appropriate for the orderly conduct of the hearing. <br /> 7. Order of Procedure at the Hearing. The hearings official in the conduct of <br /> the hearin shall: <br /> 7.1 Commence the Hearin. Announce the nature and purpose of the <br /> he 'ng and summarize the rules for its conduct. The hearings official shall make <br /> a st tement to those in attendance that: <br /> 7.1.1 Lists the applicable substantive criteria; <br /> 7.1.2 States that testimony and evidence must be directed toward the <br /> specified criteria or to other criteria in the traffic control ordinances or <br /> regulations which the person believes to apply to the decision; and <br /> 7.1.3 States that failure to raise an issue with sufficient specificity to <br /> afford the decision maker and the parties an opportunity to respond to the <br /> issue precludes an appeal on that issue to a higher city hearings body or <br /> <br /> Administra ive Order - 5 <br /> <br />