During the public hearing the council shall receive oral or written evidence relevant
to the matter being considered, and the presiding officer or any member of the council
through the presiding officer may require the city clerk to swear any person giving
evidence at the time of the hearing on the matter under consideration, if in the opinion
of the presiding officer or any member of the council, the oath is necessary. Evidence
received at public hearings provided for in this chapter, shall be relevant and material
to the issues before the council; provided, however, that the rules of evidence as
established by the Evidence Code for the State of California shall be substantially
relaxed in order to afford a full presentation of the facts essential for judicious
consideration by the council of the matter which is the subject of the public hearing.
The council may order the city clerk to issue and the chief of police or his representative
to serve subpoenas for any witnesses or records necessary for the production of evidence
at any duly scheduled public hearing as provided for herein.
