Decisions/2026-018
Report2026-018

Should Portland appoint and reappoint members to the Building Code Board of Appeal for terms to expire February 3, 2029?

Portland City Code Title 24.10.080 specifies that members of the Building Code Board of Appeal may serve up to two 3-year terms. Board members may serve a third term if their board has not convened during the board member's first two terms, or the City Administrator recommends approval of a longer term, and the Mayor and City Council approve the extended appointment. All members must be qualified by experience and training to make decisions on matters pertaining to building code issues.

Official impact statement
See the official legal title

Appoint and reappoint members to the Building Code Board of Appeal for terms to expire February 3, 2029

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01 · Understand it

What this proposal would actually do.

Plain-language orientation first. Every substantive statement below links to its official basis.

What would change

Portland City Code Title 24.10.080 specifies that members of the Building Code Board of Appeal may serve up to two 3-year terms. Board members may serve a third term if their board has not convened during the board member's first two terms, or the City Administrator recommends approval of a longer term, and the Mayor and City Council approve the extended appointment. All members must be qualified by experience and training to make decisions on matters pertaining to building code issues.

Official proposal and impact statement
What would stay the same

The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.

Official matter record
Who may be affected

This legislation will benefit the development process and the community by supporting the continued effective functioning of the Board.

Official community impact statement
What happens next

Accepted

Latest official agenda appearance
02 · Evaluate it

What the record establishes and what it does not.

Votes show choices. They do not, by themselves, prove why a member made that choice.

Rationale review not yet published

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The vote above establishes who supported or opposed that exact motion. A source-validated account of the competing reasons will appear only after human review of the meeting transcript and documents.

Financial implications

The Building Code Board of Appeal appointments and reappointments are citizen-volunteer positions, so no revenue or expenses are incurred by this legislation.

Official financial impact statement
Open questions
  • The source-linked record has not yet received a human review of competing arguments. A yes or no vote alone does not establish a Councilor’s rationale.
  • What implementation evidence will show whether the intended result occurred?
Can residents still participate?

Official testimony on this decision has closed. Residents can still contact their district Councilors about implementation and follow-up.

Official Council agenda
03 · Verify it

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Official documents1 sources
Final legal actionReport 2026-018

The operative official record after Council action.

Open at Portland.gov
Read the full official text

As Mayor, I request Council confirmation of the following two new appointments and three reappointments to the Building Code Board of Appeal.The Building Code Board of Appeal is a citizen quasi-judicial body representing building code requirements for safety. The board consists of three members and three alternates appointed by the Mayor as described in Title 24.The Building Code Board of Appeal hears appeals of building code issues which are appealed beyond the Administrative Appeals Board. The Board may affirm, annul or modify the action of Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) on the condition that substantially equivalent safety is provided generally conforming to national standards concerning fire prevention, fire safety measures, and building construction requirements for safety.I recommend two candidates for appointment and three candidates for reappointment.AppointmentMembership CategoryTermTerm DurationJennifer AlgerBuilder1st2/4/26 - 2/3/29Joseph PinzoneArchitect1st2/4/26 - 2/3/29Eric BressmanPublic at Large3rd2/4/26 - 2/3/29Elizabeth BrettBuilder2nd2/4/26 - 2/3/29Sharon NobbeArchitect2nd2/4/26 - 2/3/29Jennifer Alger - Brief Biography and Statement of InterestBiographySmall business owner and a woman who has worked in the construction industry for over 25 years.Self-employed since 2010 as a COBID certified WBE/DBE business owner who specializes in construction management, general contracting, and material procurement.Specializing in commercial development and construction for diverse industries, including corporate offices, education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, historic renovation, biotech / pharmaceutical, entertainment, multifamily residential and hospitality.Statement of Interest"I believe sometimes unique situations require alternate ways of meeting code requirements and this Board allows the flexibility of providing pathways that don't always follow the status quo. I look forward to the challenge of innovative solutions to prescriptive approaches."Joseph Pinzone - Brief Biography and Statement of InterestBiographyLicensed architect with over 35 years of experience in leading project teams and delivering innovative solutions for both private and public clients.Currently works as technical architect and consultant assisting architects with legal claims, business, and project managementContinuing education on technical aspects of architecture, building codes, and problem solving / communication skills. Statement of Interest"I am excited to bring my common sense / practical experience approach to solving problems. Working to help the public be safe and enjoy the build environment is paramount to me, and I am committed to ensuring the intent of the code is met."Eric Bressman - Brief Biography and Statement of InterestBiographyRetired architect with over 40 years of educational and professional experience. This includes mentorship of project teams on how to meet building code requirements and the use of the City of Portland appeal process.Experience also includes participation in past building code adoption processes at the national and state level.Professional work focused on quality control of his firm's construction documents, specifically on code compliance and constructability.Statement of Interest"I believe the appeals process in the City of Portland allows designers to explore options that may not otherwise be available. This results in unique designs that meet the standard of public health, safety and welfare. I used the appeals process on many projects during my career and continuing to serve on this Board would allow me to give back service to my community."Elizabeth Brett - Brief Biography and Statement of InterestBiographySenior Project Manager at a project management firm in Portland and Seattle focused on guiding public and private projects from concept through construction.Career has focused on supporting educational institutions, government, and non-profit organizations to strengthen our communities and encourage youth and young adults in their educational endeavors.Licensed architect in Oregon and Arizona and has worked in the architecture profession and construction management for over 25 years working on complex public community-based projects.Statement of Interest"I have worked with local and regional organizations focusing on equity and inclusion. We need to evaluate what we "know" and develop change in everything we do. It is our responsibility to challenge standards using our unique identities and perspectives to support our entire community."Sharon Nobbe - Brief Biography and Statement of InterestBiographySenior Project Architect with 30+ years design, building and construction project work that builds, shapes and anchor cities and neighborhoods.First-hand experience working with Architecture offices, design-build Construction companies and on the Owner's side as a Construction coordinator.Most recent efforts maintain, renovate, and restore existing buildings with a focus on extending the use and value of those buildings central to the community.Statement of Interest"I bring practical insight from architecture, construction, and owner-side coordination, with enthusiasm for solving real-world building challenges and contributing to thoughtful, lasting decisions."Together, these five candidates bring a wide range of experience, professional expertise, and community perspectives. They each demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the public interest in the development of Portland with an opportunity to problem solve to ensure projects meet the intent of building code requirements. With these appointments, all the positions on the Board will be filled.

Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes2 meetings · 2 votes
Read all 2 exact motions
Jan 13, 2026 · Main · Recorded

Motion to refer the report, Document Number 2026-018, to the full Council with the recommendation it be accepted: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (4): Dunphy, Ryan, Morillo, Avalos; Absent (1): Zimmerman).

Final Council action · Feb 4, 202612 yes · 0 no

Final action on 2026-018: Appoint and reappoint members to the Building Code Board of Appeal for terms to expire February 3, 2029

Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jan 13, 20264 yes · 1 absent

Motion to refer the report, Document Number 2026-018, to the full Council with the recommendation it be accepted: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (4): Dunphy, Ryan, Morillo, Avalos; Absent (1): Zimmerman).

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Source record
First discovered
Aug 13, 2026, 1:07 PM PDT
Last checked
Sep 13, 2026, 2:26 AM PDT
Evidence hash
f3d0da43429a9464
Guide status
Deterministic baseline
Append-only timeline
  1. SOURCE UPDATED

    Accepted

  2. DOCUMENT PUBLISHED

    Observed in the official source.

  3. Council Action

    Confirmed

  4. Council Action

    Referred to City Council