A. The city shall investigate and determine the person or entity responsible for causing or creating the hazardous materials emergency and shall notify the responsible party in writing of said determination of responsibility and the amount of costs and expenses incurred by the city in responding to the hazardous materials emergency.

B. The notice required by subsection (A) of this section shall specify that the party determined to be responsible for causing or creating the hazardous materials emergency has the right to appeal the decision determining responsibility to the governing body of the city and shall specify a deadline for filing the notice of appeal and the person or office in which it must be filed. The deadline for filing the notice of appeal shall not be less than 15 days from the date of the notice.

C. In the event a notice of appeal is filed, the hearing before the governing body shall be an informal public hearing, and the parties shall not be required to adhere to the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure or evidence. The appealing party and the city shall each be entitled to present evidence and argument in support of their respective positions, in accordance with procedures established at the hearing by the governing body.

D. The decision of the governing body shall be final. [Code 2000 § 14-7-3].