A. Powers. Recognizing that there are certain cases that may, or may not, be detrimental to aesthetic character, public health, safety and general welfare, and the effectiveness of visual communication in the city, depending upon the facts of each particular case, a limited power to issue variance permits and to interpret any section of the title is vested with the hearing examiner.

B. Appeals and Variances. Application for special permits and variances from the ruling of the city concerning the provisions herein contained may be made to the hearing examiner. The hearing examiner shall receive all applications requesting review of sign permit decisions, conditions, or determinations relating thereto, for a variance and special permit; and shall maintain and be custodian of all records of the minutes of the meetings and findings. All records shall be open to the public. Copies of the appellant’s notice for all special exceptions shall be filed with the city of Monroe, hearing examiner, and planning commission, containing the decision of the city of Monroe and the reasons why the appellant is aggrieved, specifying the grounds therefor. Each application or request for a special exception filed shall be accompanied by a fee to cover the city’s cost of handling the request for a special exception. Upon the filing of such fee and application, the city of Monroe shall forthwith transmit to the hearing examiner all papers constituting the record and decision of the city of Monroe relating to the request for a special exception. The hearing examiner shall fix a reasonable time for the public hearing and give due notice thereof to the parties and general public. The hearing examiner shall make a decision within a reasonable time after the hearing.

C. Stay. A request for any special exception to the hearing examiner stays all proceedings, in furtherance of the action from which the request for a special exception was taken, unless the city of Monroe, from whom the request for a special exception is taken, certifies to the hearing examiner, after the notice of a request for a special exception shall have been filed with the city of Monroe, that by reason of facts stated in the certification, a stay would in the city of Monroe’s opinion cause imminent peril to life or property, in which case such action shall not be stayed otherwise than by a restraining order, which may be issued by the superior court. The decision of the hearing examiner on the request for a stay shall be transmitted to the city of Monroe.

D. Collection of Expenses Incurred. Whenever there incurs any expense in connection with the removal or alteration of any sign, the cost thereof shall be paid by the owner of the real property upon which the sign is erected or maintained. In the event any other person is in possession of such property with the consent of the owner, the owner and such other person shall be jointly responsible for the payment of such cost.