City Code Section
(Replaced by Ordinance 187432; Amended by Ordinance 191582, effective February 9, 2024.)
- A. Appointment of Mechanical Code Appeal Board. In order to hear appeals of final decisions of the Building Official made under Section 27.02.030, there has been created a Mechanical Code Board of Appeal, consisting of three members and one alternate appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
- 1. Each member and alternate member must be qualified by experience and training to make decisions pertaining to the Mechanical Code and the safety of installations and apparatus regulated by this Title, including the design and installation of heating, ventilating, comfort cooling, refrigeration systems, incinerators and other miscellaneous heat-producing appliances.
- 2. Mechanical Code Board of Appeal appointments shall be for three-year terms. Appeal Board members may serve no more than two 3-year terms; however board members may serve a third term if their board has not convened in the board member’s first two terms, or unless the Director recommends approval of a longer term, and the Mayor and City Council approve the extended appointment. Vacancies occurring prior to the end of a term for whatever cause may be filled by qualified persons through appointment by the Mayor for the remainder of the term. If a board member does not convene in one of their first two terms, they are automatically rolled into a third term. Board members may opt out of the third term at their discretion.
- 3. Any member may be removed by the Mayor for incompetence, dereliction of duty, incapacity or other sufficient cause.
- 4. Members of the Mechanical Code Appeal Board shall comply with the State ethics laws applicable to public officials.
- 5. Members of the Mechanical Code Appeal Board shall serve in a voluntary capacity and without pay.
- B. Appeals to the Mechanical Code Board of Appeal. The Mechanical Code Board of Appeal may review Administrative Appeal Board decisions or any other final decision of the Building Official or Director related to the application and interpretation of this Title or the Mechanical Code. The Mechanical Code appeal will be limited to the facts and record reviewed by the Administrative Appeal Board, Building Official or Director related to the decision being appealed. A hearing will be held within 45 days after an interested party submits a written appeal to the Mechanical Code Board of Appeal. A panel of three Mechanical Code Appeal Board members will hear each appeal. The Board may, by a majority vote, affirm, annul, or modify the decision.
- C. Powers and Limitations of Authority of the Mechanical Code Board of Appeal. The Mechanical Code Board of Appeal may provide reasonable interpretations of the requirements of the Mechanical Code and may grant an appeal if the Board finds one of the following:
- 1. the Building Official or Director did not correctly apply or interpret this Title or the Mechanical Code;
- 2. special individual reasons make application of the strict letter of the Mechanical Code impractical, the modification is in compliance with the intent and purpose of the Mechanical Code, and such modification does not lessen health, accessibility, life and fire safety or structural requirements of the structure; or
- 3. any alternative material, design or method of construction and equipment complies with the intent of the Mechanical Code and the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in the Mechanical Code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, accessibility and safety. The Mechanical Code Board of Appeal may not waive the requirements of the Mechanical Code.
- Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the Mechanical Code Board of Appeal may, within 30 days after the date of the decision, appeal to the appropriate advisory board of the State of Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.