A. The Council's Legal Counsel shall present an opening statement briefly stating the established facts, disputes and issues on appeal.

B. The appellant may then present oral argument and may reserve a portion of her/his time for rebuttal. The appellant is entitled to open and close oral argument.

C. Following appellant, the opposing parties of record may present oral argument.

D. Following argument by the parties, the Council may request such further clarification from the Examiner, Planning Department Staff, or the parties as it deems necessary to fully consider the case, provided however, that if the answer to such questions requires knowledge of factual evidence which is not contained in the record, such questions shall be stricken.

E. Appellants are allowed 15 minutes for oral argument. This time may be increased up to thirty minutes if the Chair and/or Council deems additional time is warranted. Requests for additional time must be submitted in writing to the Legal Clerk at least ten days prior to the hearing and will be considered as the first issue of the hearing. Parties of record in opposition to the appellant are allowed an amount of time equal to the amount of time granted to the appellant. In the event there is more than one appellant or opposing party of record, the parties on each side will share the time granted equally, unless the parties agree to some other allocation. The Legal Clerk will act as timekeeper.

F. The Council will hear argument on behalf of appellant or parties who properly request to speak and who appear at the time of oral argument. If none of the parties appear for oral argument, the Council may order argument at a later time or may decide the matter on the record and written memoranda submitted.