Willmar, Minn., Code of Ordinances ch. 6.5, art. II § 6.5-72

(a) Two-tiered process created. There is hereby created a two-tiered appeals process. All appeals decisions and findings shall be made part of the public record.
(1) Step 1. Any person aggrieved by a notice of the appropriate authority issued in connection with any alleged violation of this article or of any applicable rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto, or by any order requiring repair or demolition, may apply to the appropriate authority for an administrative conference with the director of planning and development services for reconsideration of such notice or order provided such application is made within 14 days after the date the notice or order was issued. Upon conclusion of an administrative conference for reconsideration of notice or order, the appropriate authority shall prepare a summary of the conference and shall state the decision reached. Such summary and statement shall become part of the public record.
(2) Step 2. If the appeal is not settled in Step 1 of the process, any person aggrieved by a notice of the appropriate authority issued in connection with any alleged violation of this article, or of any applicable rule or regulation issued pursuant thereto, or by any order requiring repair or demolition, may apply to the community development committee of the city council for a reconsideration of such notice or order provided such application is made within 14 days after the date of the decision reached in Step 1.
(b) Time and place of hearing. The community development committee of the city council, upon receipt of an appeal, shall set a time and place for a hearing and shall advise the applicant in writing by mail, postage prepaid to address of applicant, of such time and place, at least seven days prior to the date of the hearing. At such a hearing, the appellant shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to show cause why such notice or order should be modified, extended, withdrawn, or a variance granted.
(c) Sustaining, modification and withdrawal of notice of order; extension, variance conditions. The community development committee shall recommend to the city council that the council sustain, modify, or withdraw the notice of order. In recommending an extension or variance of any notice or order, the committee shall observe the following conditions:
(1) The community development committee may recommend an extension of time for the compliance of any order or notice for not more than 12 months subject to appropriate conditions and provided that the committee/city council make specific findings of fact based on evidence related to the following:
a. That there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in carrying out the strict letter of any notice or order; and
b. That such an extension is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this article in securing the public health, safety, and general welfare.
(2) The community development committee may recommend a variance in a specific case and from a specific provision of this article subject to appropriate conditions and provided the committee/city council make specific findings of fact based on evidence related to the following:
a. That there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in carrying out the strict letter of any notice or order;
b. That the effect of the application of the provisions would be arbitrary in the specific case;
c. That an extension would not constitute an appropriate remedy for these practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships; and
d. That such variance is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this article in securing the public health, safety, and general welfare.