Are you an experienced plumber or plumbing designer who is interested in making sure the plumbing in Portland’s buildings is safe? Do you have a passion for learning more about construction proposals and advising on creative approaches to meet plumbing code requirements? If so, the City of Portland could benefit from your talents and passion.
Purpose of the Plumbing Code Board of Appeal
The Plumbing Code Board of Appeals is a three-person advisory body that reviews appeals from plumbing contractors who disagree with decisions made by City building officials to ensure a construction plan’s conformance with the City’s Plumbing Code. The board meets with appellants and City building officials to discuss ideas and concerns with proposed plumbing plans. The board issues rulings on whether to uphold the decisions of City building officials or allow an initial proposal to proceed as-is or with minor changes.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the advisory committee, members must live, play, worship, go to school, work or do business in the City of Portland.
There are three member positions and three alternates on the Board. Board membership consists of one licensed plumbing contractor whose experience and training qualify them to decide matters concerning the safety of installations and devices regulated by the City of Portland’s Plumbing Regulations (Title 25), one member who is a person engaged in the design of plumbing installations and devices regulated by City Plumbing Regulations, and one person who is a member of the public-at-large.
The City of Portland is currently recruiting for one regular and one alternate position.
Desired attributes
The Bureau of Development Services is at a point of significant transformation as the bureau expands the ways it interacts with and provides services to the public, with a shift to more online and remote services becoming available. It is critically important to have people of color at the table, providing their advice, perspectives and feedback on new ways the bureau and its partner bureaus serve the community through the application of building codes.
We need systems, processes and services that work for people of color. If you want to assist the review and application of building codes in better serving communities of color, and you have experience and training in construction and development that can inform this Board’s work, then we want to see your application. The attributes listed below are what will guide our selection process. It is helpful if you are specific in your answers. We do not expect you to be or have everything listed.
- You believe government is better when the community is involved.
- You are an advocate for racial equity: you want positive and long-lasting outcomes for racial and ethnic communities who have been left out before. You can bring discussion about racial and ethnic communities who need it the most.
- You have a perspective on physically navigating the community with a disability.
- You are available to attend all meetings and participate in the discussions.
- You are a licensed plumbing contractor practicing in the City of Portland.
- You are a plumbing designer practicing in the City of Portland.
Terms and time commitment
- The Plumbing Code Board of Appeal meets on an as-needed basis as appeals are received. Individual meetings typically last no longer than two hours.
- Meetings are traditionally held in City offices at 1900 SW 4th Avenue. Currently, meetings are held online via Zoom. All meetings of the Board are open to the public.
- Members serve a term of three years with the possibility of renewing for a second three-year term.
- Members are expected to attend and participate in meetings consistently. Members are expected to prepare for meetings on their own time and arrive ready to discuss meeting materials and agenda items. Meeting materials for review are typically sent one week in advance.
We remove barriers
- If needed, we can provide interpreters who will translate the conversation in your language during the meeting. Please ask for an interpreter at least a week in advance of the meeting so we have enough time to make arrangements.
- You may need to read and write in your language. Verbal and written translations are performed by outside organizations. The dialects may be different than your home region and may be different on each document.
- We try to translate the written materials you ask for, but we may not be able to provide translation on all meeting documents.
Please let us know if there are any other barriers to your participation. Parking passes will be available if you need those to fully participate.
Public Official Conflict of Interest Notice
Those selected to serve on this body will be legally considered public officials for the duration of their service. As such, they will be required to publicly disclose potential conflicts of interest. Having potential conflicts of interest does not preclude you from serving on this body and may not impact your ability to participate fully on this body. Stakeholders often have potential conflicts of interest by the nature of having an interest in construction and development matters. The Conflict of Interest Disclosure is included in the application. Please describe all potential or actual conflicts of interest on your application.
Application
Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.
Please apply for appointment to the Plumbing Code Board of Appeal here.
To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact the board’s staff liaison, Matt Rozzell, at matthew.rozzell@portlandoregon… or 971-438-9005.
Voluntary and confidential demographic information
The City of Portland is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity and uses provided demographic information to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of community. Your information will not be used during the recruitment nor the selection process. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. The City will treat this information as confidential to the fullest extent allowed by law.
For more information
For more information about the Plumbing Code Board of Appeal, please visit its website.