Applications for all matters to be heard by the hearing examiner shall be presented to the city staff, to be processed according to the applicable provisions of this code and the city of Aberdeen shoreline master program. The city staff shall be responsible for assigning a date for the public hearing for each application as required. The hearing examiner may consider two (2) or more applications relating to a single project concurrently, and the findings of fact, conclusions and decision on each application may be covered in one (1) written decision.