March 25, 2021
Portland City Council will hear and make a decision on proposed amendments relating to permit extensions, abandonment, expiration, reactivations and voiding. The amendments apply to building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and sign permits, as well as amendments specific to wireless facility permits.
https://www.portland.gov/bds/news/2021/3/24/city-council-hearing-proposed-code-amendments-regarding-life-building-and-other

Proposed Ordinance to Amend City Building Code Provisions to Clarify Permit Abandonment, Expiration, Extensions, and Reactivation (https://www.portland.gov/sites/default/files/2021/t24_25_26_27_32lifeofpermitordinanceandexhibita_finalversion.pdf)

How to submit testimony to the City Council
This ordinance will come before the Portland City Council on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, no earlier than 10:30 a.m. (time certain). The City Council meeting will be held online. Those who wish to watch the City Council meeting but not testify may watch a livestream of the meeting through the City’s video page (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/28258) .

Verbal testimony
Verbal testimony can be provided through a computer, mobile device or telephone during the hearing. Anyone interested in providing verbal testimony on this ordinance can register through the City Council Clerk’s office (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/26997) . Please check the meeting agenda, once it is posted on Friday, March 26, and refer to agenda item “Amend City Building Code Provisions to Clarify Permit Abandonment, Expiration, Extensions, and Reactivation”.
The deadline to sign up to give verbal testimony at the March 31 City Council hearing is Tuesday, March 30, at 4 p.m. Those who sign up will receive a confirmation email message containing information about joining the virtual hearing. Individuals have three minutes to testify, unless stated otherwise at the hearing. Please email the Council Clerk at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]egon.gov) with any questions on how to testify at the City Council meeting.

Written testimony
Written testimony can be submitted through the Council Clerk at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]egon.gov) . It is recommended that written testimony be submitted before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31.

An overview of the recommendation
The ordinance that will be considered by the City Council:
* Amends the City Code chapters for building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and sign permits.
* Clarifies when permits are abandoned or expired, when BDS will extend permit applications and issued permits, when BDS will reactivate abandoned or expired permits, and when applications or permits become Void,  to be consistent with State building codes, current BDS practices, and the adopted Program Guide (https://www.portland.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/permit-extension-reactivation-program-guide-final-signed-031519-290688.pdf) for the life of a permit.
* Limits the time within which an applicant for a cell phone infrastructure permit has to get the permit application issued and the project complete.

Following the public hearing, it is anticipated that the City Council will refer the ordinance to a second reading and final vote at a date in early April. If adopted by the City Council, the ordinance will take effect 30 days after its passage.

Design Overlay Zone Amendments - Update to Bureau project click here

The COVID-19 relief package with many of the provisions that NARI has be vigorously advocating for since the fist stimulus package has passed both houses of Congress and is expected to be signed by the President.  The full text of the negotiated bill which includes both the COVID stimulus and government funding packages was just released and is available here.  

The bill is extensive being 5593 pages long. We are pleased to report that the following items which we have been tracking and vigorously advocating on have made it into the final bill:

• PPP second draw for businesses with 300 or fewer employees that experience a 25% reduction in gross receipts in any quarter in 2020 as compared to the same quarter in 2019
• Expansion of the forgivable purposes for which PPP loan funds may be used
• Simplified PPP forgiveness process for loans under $150k
• Confirmation that expenses paid using forgiven PPP funds may still be deductible (reversal of IRS position)
• Extension and expansion of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)

You may want to call your bank to get in line for the new money

1. This is the first meeting in 2 years with a commissioner attending.  He was particularly interested in the homeless issue in Portland and how it affected our industry.  Having 1 or 2 DRAC members attend council meetings to address specific issues was discussed.

There were some interesting links provided to updates on permit intakes, new fees, and an overview of how both commercial and residential inspections are being handled right now. 

Permit Intake and Response Time Delays - https://www.portland.gov/bds/news/2020/9/18/permit-intake-and-response-time-delays

Permit BDS Fee Increases - https://www.portland.gov/bds/news/2020/11/18/most-bds-permit-fees-increasing-dec-1-submit-complete-plans-nov-30-avoid

Permit Processing Metrics - https://development-services-pdx.hub.arcgis.com/pages/permitting-dashboard

New OSHA Rules for All Workplaces starting Nov.1, 2020

Share your Views on a Draft Proposal to Update Portland’s Tree Code

 

SENATE PASSES HOUSE BILL AS WRITTEN ON PPP FORGIVENESS RULE CHANGES! This is great news and a HUGE game changer. “That man” still needs to sign it but he will. Four new changes:

A.) You now have 24 weeks (up from 8) from the date your covered period starts in which to spend the money (unless your 24 week mark ends after 12/31/20 - then you have till 12/31/20)

B.) You only need to spend at least 60% on p/r (down from 75%). Any not spent on payroll can still be spent on rent, mortgage interest and utilities as before. Important note: unlike before, if you spend less than 60% on payroll you now forfeit ALL forgiveness! The entire amount of PPP must be a loan. But you got 24 weeks! Who can’t make that?!

C.) This is only for new PPP loans after the act becomes law: any amounts not forgiven, you now have 5 years minimum (up from 2) at 1% interest to pay back before you need to refi.

D.) You may now defer the employer share of social security payments from your payroll tax deposits during this year if you got PPP. The amount you defer is due as follows: 50% due 12/31/21 and the rest 12/31/22. Now I don’t like debt - even 0% debt, but if you need it - take it!

The Bureau of Development Services will now refer to the applicant upload process as “Single PDF” instead of “Interim Review.”

BDS pivoted quickly after the Mayor’s State of Emergency to start accepting more types of plans via ProjectDox. Currently, applicants can submit Process Managed Permits and projects in Tiers 1- 6 (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/article/756804) via ProjectDox for limited plan review processing. This includes New Single Family Residences (NSFR) and demolition permits. For the first few months, we referred to this process as “Interim Review” or “ProjectDox Limited.” We initially thought the “Interim Review” process would be temporary, but we will not be limiting our intake ability as we move forward, only expanding our ability to take in more plans for review.

What's New for the Week of May 11
* Permit applications are now accepted for projects in all tiers 1-7.
* For projects being submitted electronically using ProjectDox software, BDS is accepting two projects per day. Permitting Services staff will work with applicants to determine suitability of their projects via this submittal method. All other projects can still be submitted using the Single PDF (Interim Review) Process (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/80685) .

Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments - IRS Website

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments

April 27, 2020

For the week of April 27, BDS is accepting permit applications for projects described in Tiers 1 through 6 below:
* Tier 1 - Hospitals and clinics responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, essential infrastructure and services such as heat, shelters and transitional housing projects, essential facilities such as the PDX terminal upgrades and BES wastewater treatment plant, and fire escape testing.
* Tier 2 - Projects that are working with BDS Process Management/Major Projects Group, wireless facilities that are subject to Federal Communications Commission timeline requirements, city infrastructure and facilities projects not covered by Tier 1, food supply related projects essential to the COVID-19 pandemic, submittals associated with projects that have an issued building permit and are under construction (this includes revisions, deferred submittals, and HVAC and electrical trade permits). This is to allow active job sites to continue to function and move these construction projects toward completion.
* Tier 3 - Portland Housing Bureau affordable housing projects (that are not working with BDS Process Management/Major Projects Group), and empowered Community Projects (Small Business Empowerment, Arts Empowerment, Empowered Neighborhoods).
* Tier 4 - Regulated affordable housing projects with associated grant funding (that are not working with BDS Process Management/Major Projects Group), and Facility Permit Program (FPP) permits (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/article/757295) .
* Tier 5 - New single family residential (NSFR) permits and demolition permits that are a requirement of an active Land Use case or are associated with development of a new structure on the same site.
* Tier 6 - Commercial and residential new construction, alterations, and additions that are not listed in any of the above tiers (the plan sets for these submittals must not exceed 20 pages and must be submitted as a PDF via an intake appointment), and mechanical permits that require plan review.
* Tier 7 - Permits for all other projects, Zoning Permits, etc. (not currently available)

If you have questions about which tier your project might belong to, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])  or call 503-823-7300 and leave a message, and a staff member will respond at their earliest opportunity.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs are saving millions of jobs, providing much-needed relief, and helping America’s small businesses make it through this challenging time. 

As of this morning, the SBA is currently unable to accept new applications for the PPP based on available appropriations funding.

Also, the SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the EIDL COVID-19 related assistance program, including EIDL Advances, based on available appropriations funding. Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. 

SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza issued this joint statement with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to “urge Congress to appropriate additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program — a critical and overwhelmingly bipartisan program — at which point we will once again be able to process loan applications, issue loan numbers, and protect millions more paychecks."

1. What loans are available to help small businesses during Coronavirus?

• The Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA).
• The Paycheck Protection Loan (Part of the CARES Act).
• Unemployment Insurance Flow Chart 

2.  A couple weeks ago congress passed the CARES Act which, among other things, designates $349 billion in forgivable loans to help with payroll and rent. The Program is administered through the SBA so most likely your local bank of approved SBA lender is who to contact.  

The final Payroll Protection Application is set to be released on Friday however we have the draft version so you will be ready to go on Friday. If you would like a copy of the draft version please email the office. [email protected] If you have any questions please feel free to reach out.

What financial assistance is available for me and/or my business?
A: The most common source of funding comes in the form of loans, but this may change with federal legislation. Even if loans aren’t desirable, there are many different types of loans out there which can be used to pay rent, utilities, payroll, and more. The US Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance in the form of SBA loans to designated states. Information about these loans is available at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/Index.

Additional financial resources for businesses can be found at Business Oregon, which is Oregon’s economic development agency. Their website created for businesses experiencing problems due to COVID-19 is https://www.oregon4biz.com/Coronavirus-Information/.

The Department of Human Services offers programs to assist those in need through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/About-SNAP.aspx) as well as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program (https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/CASH/Pages/index.aspx).

The latest information on resources for workers and business owners is available at https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/coronavirus2020.aspx.

Discussion on immediate and longer term strategies that will help you sustain and even continue to grow your business. Click on the link View the 12pm webinar recording

I want to remind you of one of our key benefits that may be of more value today – our on-demand webinars with topics ranging from leading your team to managing business financials.

Learn about the key provisions related to your obligations as an employer in our online summary at:  H.R.6201: Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

If you do Jenn Mahoney from Tom Miller Remodeling is happy to pick them up and take them to the hospital.

[email protected]                          (503) 777-9080

Also:   Places to drop off any spare N95 masks:

            Multnomah County--Portland Fire and Rescue

            Salem PPE Coordinator