191813

1. The City of Portland regulates Public Order via City Code Title 14 – Public Order & Police.  
2. The City, through the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), uses Chapter 14B.100 – Liquor License Recommendations to establish a fair, effective, and efficient process to be used by the Chief of Police in making recommendations to the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission (OLCC) regarding liquor licenses for premises within the City limits.
3. As process and administrative details in Chapter 14B.100 have not been updated for nearly two decades, these amendments are intended to codify current process into City Code, rescind inaccurate details, update Title 14 to reflect the current state of best practices at the City of Portland, and reduce bureau expenditures. 
4. When a business submits a new liquor license application, current code requires mailing a physical notice to property owners and occupants within a 300 ft radius, in addition to posting a physical notice at the location of the applying business.
5. The current requirement to mail hard copy notifications generates a very minimal response from the public. 
6. The required mailings cost the program $59,424 in the FY 22-23 budget and lead to an overwhelming amount of returned mail; sometimes as much as 80% of the original mailed pieces.
7. Considering the cost and the inefficiency of the addressing system, this ordinance amends the notification requirement by eliminating the requirement for a physical mailed notice, instead requiring digital notification in the form of posting on the BDS website (in addition to posting the required physical notice).
8. Other amendments include rescinding Section 14B.100.050 which requires Council notification of OLCC proceedings. This requirement does not reflect current city process, as notifying City Council of 400+ liquor license applications a year is an onerous burden for both BDS and the Council and does not provide clear value to the community. 
9. Additional amendments update and clarify aspects of the liquor license application procedure, such as adding email as an approved form of communication and other administrative details. 
10. Lastly, some changes have been made to streamline and simplify language for clarity throughout Chapter 14B.100. 
11. BDS Liquor Program staff have advised on these proposed amendments to Title 14, which are intended to align city code with current process, reduce unnecessary cost, and eliminate excess paper waste. 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

1. Portland City Code Chapter 14B.100 is amended as shown in Exhibit A.