Information
There are two types of Water Bureau surplus properties, and each has its own public notification process. This page provides details on each category of property.
On this page
Category one surplus properties
Category one properties are City-owned real properties to which at least one of the following descriptions applies:
- Real properties that have an estimated market value of less than $50,000;
- Real properties that are being acquired by other public agencies for capital improvement projects that will not be owned by the City of Portland;
- Real properties acquired by the City of Portland as part of a larger acquisition with the intention that portions not required to meet business needs would be disposed of;
- Real properties that, due to their size, shape, location, utility, condition of title, or restrictions imposed upon the property by the City, are deemed by the controlling bureau to be useful only to adjacent owners; or that, due to City land use ordinances, may not be disposed of to anyone other than the adjacent property owners; or
- Real properties that, due to deed restrictions, may not be disposed of to anyone other than the parties identified by the deed.
Bureaus seeking to dispose of Category one properties shall follow the processes described in Sub-Sections A, B, and D of Section III of this policy. These properties are not subject to the external notification and public comment requirements of Sub-Section C of Section III.
| Stages | Actions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Property Declared As Excess The Portland Water Bureau determines the property and structures are no longer needed for on-going operations and are excess to the bureau’s needs. |
| 2 | Inter-Bureau Transfer or Sale The Water Bureau property staff notifies the Real Property Coordinator that a specific property is excess to the bureau and sends specific property details. Within seven calendar days, written notification on its’ potential availability is sent to other City bureaus, including Council offices. City bureaus and City offices have 21 calendar days to indicate their interest. |
| 3 | Extension Opportunity Request for extension by a City Bureau. |
| 4 | Website Announcement The available property for sale is identified on the Water Bureau's surplus property website. |
| 5 | City Council Declares Property Surplus After the bureaus have responded as having no interest, the Water Bureau shall prepare an ordinance to be placed on the Council’s regular agenda. The City’s Excess Real Property website will be updated with notice of scheduled Council hearing within two weeks of scheduled Council hearing date. |
| 6 | City Ordinance to Declare Surplus The ordinance must declare the real property surplus, authorize the bureau to proceed with a disposition, and include a description, any conditions imposed for disposition, and reasons why the Water Bureau declares it excess and no longer needed and City Council is being requested to authorize disposition of the real property. |
| 7 | Notice to Sale Upon the effective date of a council ordinance authorizing the sale, the Water Bureau may proceed to sell the surplus property, with or without a real estate agent, for an asking price determined to be reasonable by the bureau's real property staff. The Water Bureau and the Real Property Coordinator will update the City’s Excess Property web page with the sale and other disposition information. |
| 8 | Property Listed The Water Bureau will list the surplus property for sale with the Regional Multiple List Service (RMLS). |
| 9 | Property Sale Surplus property is available for sale. |
Category two surplus properties
Category two properties are City-owned real properties that, per the terms of City Charter, City Code, administrative rules, City Council action, or other city, state or federal regulations, may be disposed of by the City for public purposes. These properties are subject to internal review processes described in Sub-Section E of Section III of this policy, as well as any bureau-specific policies and procedures. These properties are not subject to the requirements of Sub-Sections A, B, C, or D of Section III (Category two properties do not pertain to the Water Bureau).
Category three surplus properties
Category three properties include all other real property owned by the City of Portland and under consideration for disposition that are not otherwise included in Categories one and two. Bureaus seeking to dispose of Category three properties shall follow the processes described in Sub-Sections A, B, C, and D of Section III of this policy.
| Stages | Actions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Property Declared As Excess The Portland Water Bureau determines the property and structures are no longer needed for on-going operations and are excess to the bureau’s needs. |
| 2 | Inter-Bureau Notification of Sale of Excess Property The Water Bureau property staff notifies and sends specific details to the Real Property Coordinator that a specific property is excess and no longer needed for bureau use. Within seven calendar days, written notification on its potential availability is sent to other City bureaus, offices and Council offices. Each City bureau, office and Council office may provide a written response within 21 calendar days indicating whether or not the bureau or office is interested in the property. |
| 3 | External Notification If no City bureau or office indicates interest in acquiring the real property, and the originating bureau wishes to proceed with the deposition process, there is a minimum 60 calendar-day notification period to invite public comment for consideration. The Real Property Coordinator shall provide written notice of the proposed disposition to the Neighborhood Coalition, the Neighborhood Association, and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement of the bureau’s intent to dispose of the property. At this time, the property will be listed on the citywide Excess Real Property webpage. The Real Property Coordinator, in conjunction with the originating bureau, will notify PDC, Metro, TriMet, the Port of Portland, the county in which the real property is located, the State of Oregon, and any other jurisdictions that have expressed interest in being notified. |
| 4 | Extension Opportunity Request for extension by a City bureau or office. |
| 5 | Website Announcement The available property for sale is identified on the Water Bureau's Surplus Property website. |
| 6 | Signage The Water Bureau will place an informational sign on the property identifying it as excess, available for acquisition, and listed for sale to the public if not acquired by a public agency. The sign is posted for a minimum of 60 days. |
| 7 | Extension Opportunity Request for extension from Neighborhood Association. |
| 8 | Printed Notification Notification of proposed disposition given to those living within 200 feet of the property by the Real Property Coordinator. |
| 9 | City Council Declares Property Surplus If, after the informational sign has been posted for a minimum of 60 days, the public comment period has ended, and no public agency has expressed interest in acquiring the property, the Water Bureau prepares an Ordinance to be placed on the regular City Council agenda. The Ordinance asks council to declare the property surplus and authorize the Water Bureau to proceed with a public sale. The Real Property Coordinator updates the web page. |
| 10 | Notice to Sale Upon the effective date of a council Ordinance authorizing the sale, the Water Bureau may proceed to sell the surplus property, with or without a real estate agent, for an asking price determined to be reasonable by the bureau's property manager. |
| 11 | Pre-Authorized Properties For any properties already authorized for sale by council, the Water Bureau shall, prior to the sale, conduct notice in Stage 1 (above) and proceed to sale in Stage 5 (above). |
| 12 | Property Listed The surplus property is listed for sale with the Regional Multiple List Service (RMLS). |
| 13 | Property Sale Surplus property is available for sale. |