Should Portland amend Portland Permitting & Development fee schedules to improve cost recovery and service levels for customers?

The City of Portland ordains.Section 1. The Council finds:Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) promotes safety, livability, and economic vitality through efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes.In 1988-89, the Development Services Operating Fund was established with a policy that construction-related programs in the fund would be full self-supporting. Since that time PP&D, formerly known as the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) has kept these programs self-supporting by providing efficient, effective services and applying periodic, moderate fee increases that allow the bureau to respond to increasing costs and to be innovative and proactive in meeting changing customer needs.PP&D collects fees under various fee schedules, including building, land use, neighborhood inspections, plumbing, signs, site development, and others. These fees are used by PP&D to fund inspections, plan review, permit issuance, land use review, code enforcement, customer assistance and other functions.Fees charged for services delegated from the State Building Codes Division (BCD) must comply with the fee calculation methodologies as determined by BCD and described in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 918-050-0000 through 918-050-0170.Fees charged must be used to cover the costs of administering and enforcing the State Building Code only and may not be used to cover the costs of administering and enforcing local codes. Fees charged by PP&D should cover the costs of providing these services.PP&D has been proactive in informing bureau customers and stakeholders regarding the need and rationale for the proposed fee changes. The bureau has published information about the proposed changes on its website.Comparisons of major development related fees for seven sample projects, contained in Exhibit R, illustrating the cumulative effect of major fee changes across all development bureaus. Exhibit R is the result of a Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) recommendation that development bureaus address fee changes in a more collaborative fashion.The following estimated collection increases are needed for PP&D to reach budgetary goals for FY 2025-26, meet annual expenses and build or maintain prudent reserves: Accessory Short-Term Rentals 5%Building/Mechanical Program 5%Cannabis Licensing Program 2%Electrical Program 5%Environmental Review Program 5%Facility Permit Program 5%Field Issuance Remodel Program 5%Land Use Services Program 5%Neighborhood Inspections Program 5%Noise Program 5%Plumbing Program 5%Signs Program 5%Site Development Program 5%Transportation Review Program 5%Urban Forestry Review Program 5%Water Review Program 5%Zoning Enforcement Program 5%NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:The Fee Schedules listed as exhibits A through Q to this ordinance shall be effective July 1, 2025.This ordinance is binding City policy.In support of this ordinance, the following Exhibits (A-R) describe the current and proposed fees:Exhibit A: BuildingExhibit B: CannabisExhibit C: ElectricalExhibit D: EnforcementExhibit E: Environmental ReviewExhibit F: Land Use Services (LUS)Exhibit G: Life Safety (LUS)Exhibit H: Site Development (LUS)Exhibit I: MechanicalExhibit J: NoiseExhibit K: PlumbingExhibit L: SignsExhibit M: Site Development Exhibit N: Transportation ReviewExhibit O: Urban Forestry ReviewExhibit P: Water ReviewExhibit Q: Hearings Office (LUS)Exhibit R: Fee Comparisons