5.72.020 Definitions.
(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 166682 and 172567, effective August 12,
1998.) As used in this Chapter unless the context requires otherwise:
A. “Economic development project” includes any properties, real
or personal, used or useful in connection with a revenue producing
enterprise. “Economic development project” shall not include any facility
or facilities designed primarily for the operation, transmission, sale, or
distribution of electrical energy. “Economic development project” also
includes multiple unit residential housing development on land having an
assessed valuation of $8 per square foot or more on September 13, 1975, land
within a designated urban renewal or redevelopment area formed pursuant to ORS
Chapter 457, land within an area designated as a Housing and Community
Development target neighborhood pursuant to the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974, or projects which benefit low or moderate income
tenants, or address slum and blight as defined by the 1974 Housing and Community
Development Act.
B. “Eligible project” means an economic development project
found by the City to meet standards adopted pursuant to this Chapter.
“Eligible project” includes multiple unit residential housing development which
increases available housing units through new construction, rehabilitation of
nonresidential buildings, or provides for rehabilitation of residential
buildings.
C. “City” means the City of Portland.
D. “Costs” as applied to any project must conform to all
applicable Internal Revenue Service regulations and may include:
1. The cost of construction and reconstruction.
2. The cost of acquisition of property, including rights in
land and other property, both real and personal and improved and unimproved
and the cost of site improvements.
3. The cost of demolishing, removing or relocating any
buildings or structures on lands so acquired, including the cost of acquiring
any lands to which the buildings or structures may be moved or relocated.
4. The cost of eligible machinery and equipment and related
financing charges.
5. The cost of engineering and architectural surveys, plans
and specifications.
6. The cost of financing charges and interest prior to and
during construction, and if deemed advisable by the City for a period not
exceeding 1 year after completion of construction.
7. The cost of consultant and legal services, other expenses
necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of
constructing a project, administrative and other expenses necessary to or
incident to the construction of the project, including, but not limited to,
costs of relocation and moving expenses according to a project plan developed
by the City, and the financing of the construction of the project thereof,
including reimbursement to any state or other governmental agency or any
lessee of such project for the expenditures made with the approval of the City
that would be costs of the project under this Chapter had they been made
directly by the City, and any costs incurred after bond issuance by the City
for audits or monitoring.
E. “ Qualified historic project” shall mean a project which
includes the restoration or rehabilitation of a structure or structures
designated as a City of Portland Historic Landmark. Such rehabilitation or
restoration shall require the approval of the City of Portland Landmarks
Commission to assure conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards
for historic preservation projects.
5.72.030 Economic Development Applications.
A. The Portland Development Commission shall be responsible for
receipt of applications and review and processing thereof. Applications
shall be in a form established by the Portland Development Commission and shall
include, in addition to other information deemed necessary by the Portland
Development Commission:
1. Company/applicant information.
2. Project information.
3. Description of labor force at existing and proposed
locations.
4. Financial information.
5. Environmental control information.
6. Any information required by law or otherwise which is
reasonable and necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Chapter.
7. An agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Portland
Development Commission and the City of Portland, its officers and employees,
from any and all liability for loss or damage to the company or any third
person or entity arising from or alleged to have arisen from the processing of
this application or any error or omission in any official statement or
representation related to the contemplated financing.
B. The applicant must certify by letter that the issuance of
revenue bonds is an inducement to locate, retain, or expand the project in
Portland.
C. The requirements herein shall be considered to be minimums,
and the Portland Development Commission and the City reserve the right to add
additional requirements on a case‑by‑case basis. Likewise, the
requirements herein stated pertain only to the Commission and the City and are
not exclusive. Qualified bond counsel or the original purchaser may make
additional requirements.
5.72.040 Economic Development Initial Review, Standards.
A. Upon receipt of an application, the Portland Development
Commission shall review the application to determine whether the application
should be further processed. In reaching such a determination, the
Portland Development Commission staff may request additional information from
the applicant as well as assemble any and all data deemed relevant to the
decision.
B. The Portland Development Commission shall consider the
following:
1. Economic feasibility and general benefits to the City of
the proposed project.
2. Density of use and potential impact in the area affected by
the proposed project.
3. Land use, transit, and transportation facilities in the
vicinity of the proposed project.
4. City’s ability to supply or support other needed services
resulting from the Economic Development Project.
5. Effect of proposed project on balanced economic development
of the City.
6. Employment and property tax income from the project.
7. Employment opportunities. City and Portland
Development Commission will use employment agreements when and where
appropriate.
8. Suitability of proposed area in the City for the particular
type of proposed development project.
9. Conformance with Internal Revenue Service regulations and
the Oregon Revised Statutes.
C. No application shall be recommended for City Council approval
unless the Portland Development Commission determines that the proposed project
does not conflict with adopted City plans and policies, and conforms to the
following uses:
1. Manufacturing or other industrial production.
2. Agricultural development or food processing.
3. Transportation or freight facilities.
4. Warehousing or distribution.
5. A project for the primary purpose of reducing air, water,
or solid waste pollution.
6. Other activities that represent new technology or types of
economic enterprise that the City determines are needed to diversify the
economic base of the community.
7. Parking in close proximity to the Portland Performing Arts
Center. Such a parking facility may include space for retail and
commercial uses in addition to parking.
8. Commercial uses when a part of a qualified historic project
or publicly initiated urban development project.
5.72.050 Housing - Applications.
A. The Portland Development Commission shall be responsible for
receipt of applications and review and processing thereof, including, but not
limited to, advice of bond counsel and legal advice. Applications shall be
in a form established by the Portland Development Commission and shall include,
in addition to other information deemed necessary by the Portland Development
Commission:
1. The applicant’s name, address and telephone number.
2. A brief description of the applicant’s company history and
past relevant performance.
3. A legal description of the property upon which the project
will be located.
4. A detailed description of the project including the number,
size and type of dwelling units; dimensions of structures; parcel size,
proposed lot coverage with buildings, and amount of open space; type of
construction; public and private access; parking and circulation plans; water,
sewer, and other utility plans; landscaping; expected uses; and economic
feasibility studies and market information including rent levels proposed.
5. A description of the existing use of the property including
a proposed relocation plan for any persons who would be displaced from
existing housing by the project; and for any businesses which would be
displaced.
6. A site plan and supporting maps, which show in detail the
development plan of the entire project, showing streets, driveways, sidewalks,
pedestrian ways, off‑street parking and loading areas; location and dimension
of structures; use of the land and structure; major landscaping features;
design of structures; and existing and proposed utility systems including
sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water, electric, gas and telephone lines.
7. Any other information required by law or otherwise which is
reasonable and necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Chapter.
8. The approximate amount of bond proceeds and allocation to
eligible costs.
9. An agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Portland
Development Commission and the City of Portland, its officers and employees,
from any and all liability for loss or damage to the company or any third
person or entity arising from or alleged to have arisen from the processing of
this application or any error or omission in any official statement or
representation related to the contemplated
financing.
5.72.060 Housing - Initial Review, Standards.
(Amended by Ordinance No. 177259, effective February 19, 2003.)
A. Upon receipt of an application, the Portland Development
Commission shall review the application to determine whether the application
should be further processed. In reaching such a determination, the
Commission may request additional information from the applicant as well as
assemble any and all data deemed relevant to the decision.
B. The Portland Development Commission shall, after review and
comment by all relevant City bureaus, recommend approval, approval with
conditions, or denial of the application, after consideration of the
following:
1. The economic feasibility of the project, with and without
the use of revenue bonds.
2. The need for housing resulting from the project.
3. The general benefits to the City of the proposed
project.
4. The City’s ability to supply or support other needed
services required by the project.
5. Employment and property tax income from the project.
6. Suitability of the project as proposed in the specific
proposed location.
7. (Amended by Ordinance No. 157998; Nov. 21, 1985.)
Projects applying for permanent financing must be determined to provide
housing at rent or price levels 85 percent of which shall be affordable by
households with incomes up to 150 percent of the area median income.
8. Projects in the downtown, particularly the RX Zone,
designated urban renewal or redevelopment areas shall receive highest
priority.
9. Conformance with Internal Revenue Service Regulations and
the Oregon Revised Statutes.
10. No application shall be recommended for approval unless
the Portland Development Commission, after review and comment by all relevant
City bureaus, determines that the project does not conflict with adopted City
plans and policies.
11. Projects applying for construction financing may be at
rent or price levels up to 150 percent of median income, but must have
available a firm commitment for long‑term project financing.
C. No project may be approved which would result in the
conversion of existing occupied residential rental units to condominium or
cooperative projects.
D. The applicant, to be eligible for financing assistance under
this program, must agree not to discriminate against any purchaser or tenant who
is a parent or legal guardian with whom a child resides or is expected to
reside, except in projects designed exclusively for households, the heads of
whom are 62 years of age or older; or in projects designed for households,
the heads of whom are 55 years of age or older, if the project meets the
requirements of the applicable federal law.
E. Revenue bonds may be issued secured by revenues from mortgage
payments from individual owners of condominium and cooperative units within
multiple unit housing projects which are newly constructed, rehabilitated from
other uses or rehabilitated in abandoned residential buildings.
Applications for such projects shall be considered by the Portland Development
Commission if:
1. No individual or company may have more than one loan
outstanding at any one time under this program for individual condominium or
cooperative units.
2. No mortgage loan funds under this program may be used for
refinancing by existing owners, and no loans may be assumed by persons not
eligible for condominium or cooperative units.
F. The applicant shall submit a relocation plan for any
households, individuals, or businesses which may be displaced by the proposed
project. The Portland Development Commission will be responsible for
analysis of that proposal and recommendation of that plan, that plan with
amendments, or an alternative plan. The relocation plan shall assure that
such households, individuals, or businesses are relocated to affordable housing
of comparable or better quality.
5.72.070 Initial Determination of Eligibility, Final Approval, Appeals.
A. The Portland Development Commission staff, within 60 days
after a complete application is filed with the Commission, shall prepare a
written recommendation of approval, approval with conditions or denial of the
application.
B. If Portland Development Commission staff recommends approval
or approval with conditions of the application, the Commission shall, within 60
days of receipt of the application and recommendation, recommend by resolution
that City Council approve, approve with conditions, or deny the
application. This resolution shall include consideration of any required
relocation plan. The Council shall, by resolution, approve, approve with
conditions, or deny the application. Council approval or conditional
approval of an application shall authorize the Portland Development Commission
to process the application and to execute a letter of intent with the
applicant.
C. Final approval shall take place after receipt and review by
the Portland Development Commission of all requested and required final
documents. All documents to be approved by the Portland Development
Commission must be received in final form and received by the Commission l4 days
prior to a scheduled Commission meeting. If the Commission determines that
the documents comply with the rules and policies established within this
Chapter, the Commission shall, by resolution, recommend issuance of the bonds in
accordance with those final documents and further recommend that City Council
adopt an ordinance authorizing issuance of the bonds in accordance with those
documents.
D. If the Portland Development Commission staff recommends
denial of the application, they shall notify the applicant in writing. The
applicant may appeal by filing written notice thereof with the Portland
Development Commission staff within l4 days of receipt of the notice of
rejection. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Portland Development Commission
shall, within 45 days, recommend by resolution, approval, approval with
conditions or denial of the appeal.
5.72.080 General Conditions; Document Preparation and Review.
(Amended by Ordinance No. 166682, effective June 30, 1993.)
A. The following general conditions prevail in the issuance of
all industrial development revenue bonds:
1. City of Portland economic development
revenue bonds may be sold at public or private sale, and the bonds may mature
at any time or times within the useful life of the project. For public
sales, special approval may be required.
2. Any bond authorized under this Chapter which is to be sold
by public sale must be rated by either a nationally recognized rating agency
as Investment Grade.
3. Bonds sold through a private sale do not require a
rating. For purposes of this Chapter, “private sale” means a sale of all
of the bonds to persons or entities that qualify as “accredited investors”
under 15 USC Section 77b (15) (I) or 17 CFR Section 230.215. The
purchasers must also certify, in a manner satisfactory to the City, that they
have the financial sophistication, knowledge and experience in financial
matters to evaluate the investment in the bonds and the appropriateness of
that investment for them, and that they have received all the information
required to make an informed judgement about the purchase of the bonds.
Bonds which are sold through a private sale may be resold or transferred only
to persons or entities that qualify as accredited investors and that provide
the certification described in the preceding sentence.
4. The City of
Portland does not guarantee the
bonds and is not subject to any liability for their repayment.
5. The terms and conditions of the issuance and purchase of an
industrial revenue bond issue are to be agreed upon by the applicant and bond
purchaser with the concurrence of the Portland Development Commission (acting
on behalf of the City.)
6. Where residential rental property is assisted under this
Chapter, construction of the project must begin within 9 months from the date
of bond issuance.
7. Applicant will be required to keep the Portland Development
Commission advised of the schedule for document preparation and approval, and
to provide drafts of documents to the Commission upon request of the
Commission.
B. The following general conditions prevail regarding the
preparation of all bond documents:
1. Bond counsel will be designated by the Portland Development
Commission. Procedures for selecting bond counsel established by Section
5.68.080 of this Code shall not apply to projects initiated pursuant to this
Chapter. The applicant will submit their recommendation of bond
counsel.
2. Bond counsel will advise the Portland Development
Commission of all federal and state procedural requirements as they apply to
issuance of the bonds.
3. Bond counsel must be an
Oregon law firm or other
mutually acceptable bond counsel recognized in the Bond Buyers Directory of
Municipal Bond Dealers of the United
States.
4. The trustee chosen by the applicant, and approved by the
Commission, must be a bank or trust company doing business in the State of
Oregon with trust powers.
5. All documents to be approved by the Portland Development
Commission must be in final form and received by the Portland Development
Commission l4 days before the Commission meeting at which it will be acted
upon.
5.72.090 Application Processing, Financial Considerations.
A. Upon receipt of a resolution approving the application, the
Portland Development Commission shall consider:
1. The bond market for the types of bonds proposed for
issuance.
2. The terms and conditions of the proposed issue.
3. Whether the applicant is financially responsible and fully
capable and willing to fulfill its obligations under the agreement of lease,
or contract, including the obligation to pay rent in the amounts and at the
times required, the obligation to operate, repair and maintain at its own
expense the project leased, or sold, and to serve the purposes of this Chapter
and such other responsibilities as may be imposed under the lease or
contract. In determining financial responsibility of the applicant
consideration shall be given to the lessee’s or purchaser’s ratio of current
assets to current liabilities, net worth, earning trends, coverage of all
fixed charges, the nature of the industry or business involved, its inherent
stability, any guarantee of the obligations by some other financially
responsible corporation, firm or person, and other factors determinative of
the capability of the lessee or purchaser, financially and otherwise, to
fulfill its obligations consistently with the purposes of this Chapter and
Chapter 772, Oregon Laws of 1977 (ORS 280.410 to 280.485.)
4. Such other relevant factors as the Development Commission
considers necessary to protect the financial integrity of the City.
If the Development Commission shall determine that a bond issue is
financially feasible it shall designate the underwriter, trustee and bond
counsel and shall enter into appropriate agreements with each to carry out the
provisions of this Chapter and Chapter 772, Oregon Laws of 1977 (ORS 280.410
to 280.485) subject to the approval of the Council pursuant to Section
5.72.110 of this Chapter. In reaching its determination, the Development
Commission may appoint a Bond Review Committee to assist it in its
deliberations, and may set administrative procedures from time to time as
necessary.