Carmen Rubio worries top city leaders could derail her permit consolidation plan

Commissioner Carmen Rubio recently convinced her colleagues on the Portland City Council to consolidate all of the city’s licensing staff, currently spread across seven bureaus, into one office by next summer.

The goal is simple (though getting approval won’t be easy, thanks to an ill-fated alternative plan proposed by Commissioner Mingus Maples): Rubio wants to issue construction permits to developers faster so they can more quickly Build housing quickly.

But emails over the past month indicate the plan has run into internal resistance from city bureaucrats, particularly from Michael Jordan, the city’s chief administrative officer, who is overseeing the city’s transition to a new form of government.

communication

Development Services Director Rebecca Esau, who retired in December, wrote in a September article. A Nov. 11 email to Rubio said she was concerned about Jordan’s slow progress in the integration process.

“He said the merger would set us back, make things worse for a period of time and undermine our progress,” Esau wrote to the commissioners. “It’s clear he doesn’t support the resolution.”

Esau added: “Both the director and the[project manager]knew he was opposed to the merger. So, essentially, they had the power to sabotage and delay the project.”

Rubio forwarded the email to Mayor Ted Wheeler and the mayor’s chief of staff, Bobby Lee, who Jordan reported to.

“Can we discuss the intent and urgency of allowing Michael Jordan to follow our resolutions to gain our understanding and that of the community?” Rubio wrote. “The email below and unsolicited comments from other city staff regarding what was communicated appear to be contrary to our agreement and the understanding of community stakeholders.”

Lee responded to Rubio that Jordan was following the direction of the resolution.

“To date, Michael has made it clear that the integration will occur in accordance with the resolution timeline outlined,” Lee wrote. “I just spoke to him and he confirmed it to me.”

Rubio appeared unconvinced and demanded to meet with the mayor and Jordan in person to discuss the matter. “We sincerely want to move forward and move this forward,” Rubio wrote.

What did the officials say?

It’s been a month since those emails, and Rubio now says she and Jordan are close to a deal, but added that her concerns remain.

“When I heard from bureau staff how Chief Jordan talked about the work ahead and the end result, I was surprised and frankly very concerned. Our visions are obviously very different,” Rubio said WW. “I’m still not convinced there’s a recognition that the end result needs to be truly aligned with the needs of those working on community and housing developments in order for it to work.”

Jordan’s spokesman said Rubio’s concerns were unfounded.

“At the direction of City Council, Michael Jordan is passionately overseeing the consolidation of Portland’s licensing services,” said Kelly Belding. (Esau wrote in a mid-October email that she felt “more hopeful now” that Jordan would follow the directive.)

why it’s important

The city’s permitting system has been fragmented and disjointed for decades, which developers say has significantly reduced their ability to build the housing the city craves. Rubio aims to address this issue with his consolidation plan, which has the support of business groups and unions.

But the plan is far less popular among city officials. Directors of the Department of Parks, Transportation, Water and Environmental Services sharply criticized Rubio’s proposal — which the City Council later approved in a 5-0 vote, writing in a July letter that it would Slow down the progress that has been made within the Licensing Authority. Jordan is responsible for a larger reorganization of these agencies.