Committee refers five appointments to Building Code Board of Appeal to full council

The Homelessness and Housing Committee on Jan. 13 voted to refer five appointments for the Building Code Board of Appeal to the full Portland City Council for approval.

Natalie Didion, the city’s building official, explained that the quasi-judicial board hears appeals of administrative decisions and currently has low volume: of 286 administrative appeals this past year, only five went to the building code board of appeal. She said reappointing three members and adding two alternates would restore the board to the required composition of three members and three alternates.

Nominees cited: the committee packet and presentation named Eric Bressman (retired architect), Elizabeth Brett (senior project manager, licensed architect) and Sharon Noby (project architect) for reappointment, and Jennifer Alger (small-business owner, certified DBE/WBE) and Joseph Penzoni (licensed architect) for alternate seats.

A public commenter, Cassidy Kimball, used the Building Code item’s public-comment window to highlight shelter operations and the impact of rules that prevent people from bringing personal belongings into some shelters, urging more trauma-informed practices.

Councilors asked about alternates’ roles and historical volumes of appeals; Didion said the highest number in the available record was 34 appeals in 2017 and that the board historically met monthly when volumes were higher. The committee moved, seconded and voted to refer report document number 2026-018 to full council with four ayes and one absent.

Next steps: The report (2026-018) will be considered by the full council for final appointment confirmation.