City Code Section
- A. Any applicant for any license who is required by the OLCC to have a recommendation from the City of Portland concerning the suitability of the application shall present the license application forms prescribed by the OLCC to the Portland Permitting & Development, or its designee, for the purpose of obtaining the recommendation of the Chief of Police concerning the license.
- B. The Portland Permitting & Development shall accept liquor license applications only when the following conditions are met:
- 1. All required forms are properly completed and in order; and
- 2. The processing fee has been paid. Fees shall be in the maximum amount allowed by Oregon law and shall be nonrefundable.
- C. The Portland Permitting & Development shall forward completed liquor license applications and required documentation to the Chief of Police or their designee within two business days.
- D. Except for applications for new licensed premises for railroads, public passenger carriers or boats, health care facilities, or all OLCC wholesale type licenses, in addition to the posting of a conspicuous notice on the licensed premises as required by the OLCC, Portland Permitting & Development shall:
- 1. Notify the public that an application has been filed by posting relevant information on the liquor program website.
- 2. Require the applicant to post the proposed new licensed premises with a notice indicating the process for public comment.
- 3. Request a response in writing, via mail or electronic delivery, from the public and allow at least 20 days after posting of notification as provided in this Section, to provide a response in writing to Portland Permitting & Development.
- E. The Chief of Police shall conduct an investigation of each application for the purpose of determining the recommendation that shall be made to the OLCC. In addition to the information required by the OLCC application forms, the Chief of Police is authorized to require from the applicant any other pertinent information that the Chief of Police deems appropriate.
- F. The Chief of Police shall coordinate with Portland Permitting & Development prior to issuance of a recommendation to determine if there is substantial community concern or opposition to the application.
- 1. If the Chief of Police finds that there are valid grounds to make an unfavorable recommendation to OLCC as provided by Oregon liquor laws, the Chief of Police shall make an unfavorable recommendation. This recommendation will be sent to the Portland Permitting & Development and the OLCC.
- 2. If there is substantial community concern or opposition to the application, but the Chief of Police, because of time constraints or other factors, does not find sufficient basis for an unfavorable recommendation as provided by Oregon liquor laws, the Chief of Police shall make a no endorsement recommendation with supporting documentation of community concern or opposition as provided by Portland Permitting & Development, and may request that the OLCC hear testimony from the community. This recommendation will be sent to the Portland Permitting & Development and the OLCC. Portland Permitting & Development shall coordinate community testimony for OLCC hearings.
- 3. If the Chief of Police finds no basis for an unfavorable recommendation as provided by Oregon liquor laws, and there is no substantial community concern or opposition at the licensed premises, the Chief of Police shall make a favorable recommendation. This recommendation will be sent to the Portland Permitting & Development and the OLCC. The Chief of Police may also attach conditions or restrictions to a favorable recommendation, such as allowing sales only during limited hours, restricting the sale of alcoholic beverages associated with street drinkers, or other conditions or restrictions consistent with the Oregon liquor laws.
- G. Portland Permitting & Development shall notify the applicant of the recommendation.
- H. The process for renewal applications shall be as provided by this Section except that the notification requirements of Subsection D shall not apply.
- I. If Portland Permitting & Development believes a good neighbor agreement will alleviate substantial neighborhood concern or opposition, Portland Permitting & Development shall attempt to work with the licensed premises and the neighborhood to achieve a good neighbor agreement. Portland Permitting & Development shall notify the Chief of Police and the OLCC of any completed good neighbor agreements, or, of its attempts to achieve a good neighbor agreement, in the event Portland Permitting & Development is unable to complete a good neighbor agreement within a reasonable period of time.