News Updates - December 17, 2008

Confirmation of recent executive
appointments and re-appointments

The Senate Interim Committee on Rules and Executive Appointments confirmed the following executive appointment and re-appointments to BCD's advisory boards:

Board of Boiler Rules (ORS 480.535)
Vice-chairman Mike Bradley
Position representing - Boilermaker
Re-appointment to 2nd 4-year term [expires 11/21/2012]

Mechanical Board (ORS 455.140 & 144)
Chairman Terry Hurst
Position representing - Natural gas/utility
Re-appointment to 2nd 4-year term [expires 07/01/2012]

Residential Structures Board (ORS 455.135)
John C. Mills
Position representing - Residential building trade subcontractor
New appointment to 1st 4-year term [expires 06/30/2012]

Board vacancies
BCD has six governor-appointed boards that assist the division with its work. The following positions are currently vacant:

Please fill out an application if you are interested.

In addition to vacancies on the governor-appointed boards, BCD also has a vacancy designated for a manufactured dwelling installer on the Manufactured Structures and Parks Advisory Board. The director of DCBS appoints this position.

Please fill out this application if you are interested.

Consistent Fee and Forms Methodology -
some answers to your questions

Q. When do we need to start using the new methodology?
A. The rules are effective January 1, 2009. All jurisdictions should be using the new methodology at that point.

Q. What is changing?
A. For many jurisdictions the new rules will not radically change how they figure permit prices. Here are a few changes to be aware of. The rules require use of the ICC valuation table for figuring structural permits. Certain items are included in the cost of a basic residential plumbing permit. Additionally, base fees and administrative fees are required to be incorporated into your fee schedule or into the price of an individual permit item. Do not forget, minimum fees are allowed for all program areas.

Q. What is the difference between an administrative fee and a surcharge?
A. Administrative fees are used to recoup the costs of administering the building codes program. Statute requires jurisdictions to set fees to cover the administration and enforcement of the program, so these administrative fees need to be worked into the permit cost.

Surcharges are those fees that are charged as part of the cost of doing business with the jurisdiction. (For example, if a fee is charged on every permit, whether it is a business permit/license, an animal license, or a marriage license, etc., AND on a building permit, then it is a surcharge and is allowed under the new methodology.)

Q. My jurisdiction is switching to the new methodology. Do I need to give BCD notice under OAR 918-020-0220?
A. If the switch is "revenue neutral" then no. The division is viewing this switch to the new methodology as a fee reorganization rather than a fee change - so, as long as you are not taking this opportunity to increase your department's revenue, we will not require notification. Therefore, if you are just switching over to the new methodology and your revenue will increase a small amount just due to the new way of figuring fees, that is ok.

Q. What about Quick Permits jurisdictions?
A. In order for Quick Permit programmers to start entering the new fees into the system, jurisdictions should have already notified the division of any fees that changed. If you have not sent us your fee change information, you need to do so as soon as possible. Changes to Quick Permits go into effect on January 1. If we do not have new fee information for you, then we will assume that there were no changes due to the loss of base and administrative fees.
If you have any questions, please contact Aeron Teverbaugh at aeron.teverbaugh@state.or.us.

Program renewals for Group Four due January 1, 2009

For all jurisdictions in program administration Group Four (4) - your four year program renewal request is due January 1, 2009. If you will not be able to return your program renewal request to us by then, contact Aeron Teverbaugh at aeron.teverbaugh@state.or.us by December 21st to ask for an extension. If you do not know which program renewal group you are in, you can check.

Enforcement

A new section for the Local Building Department Newsletter
That is right, you have not seen this section in the newsletter before. This addition will supply you with a link to the most recent enforcement summary reports presented to the different boards. This section of the newsletter will appear whenever there is a new summary report available, so keep an eye out for a list of most recent cases resolved by BCD's enforcement section.

Electrical and Elevator Board enforcement case summary
Board of Boiler Rules enforcement case summary

Regional Program Services

Road Shows a big success
Note: This week's sessions canceled because of inclement weather

The regional coordinators were on the go again last week! They accompanied the ePermitting team to the gatherings where Accela provided demonstrations. Luckily, the snowy, icy weather we are experiencing this week was not prevalent during these excursions.

After coordinating dates, locations, and invitations, the regional coordinators got to enjoy the results of their efforts. Every meeting from Portland to Pendleton was full of information and answers to many questions. Everyone in attendance has a much better understanding of how the new Accela permitting system is going to improve the ePermitting process in Oregon.

Unfortunately, the meetings scheduled for this week have been canceled because of the weather conditions. Therefore, if you were planning on attending the meetings scheduled on December 18 in Salem and Eugene or the one scheduled in Redmond on December 19, these gatherings will not be held. If you need more information, please contact Kaylan McAllaster at Kaylan.L.McAllaster@state.or.us or 503-373-0723.

ePermitting

New information Web site on ePermitting goes live
There is a new look and lots of new information available at www.Oregon-ePermitting.info.Yes, the new information Web site has been updated and improved. BCD is hoping people will come to this site to get to all their ePermitting needs. There are three different segments to the site: Local Building Departments, Property Owners, and Contractors. Each segment has its own "home page," which has all the links pertinent to the group highlighted. What a great bookmark for your one-stop shopping in ePermitting! Please check out the new site and let us know what you think. For any questions or comments please contact Sherri West at Sherri.D.West@state.or.us or 503-373-7509.