Director's Corner

Welcome to the Bureau of Development Services’ (BDS) Web site. Our site is designed to provide citizens, stakeholders and customers with comprehensive and updated information about the bureau, the land use and development review process, and the wide range of programs and services the bureau offers.

After a difficult few years of being affected by the economic crisis we are beginning to see positive signs of recovery for the bureau. Over the past year, there has been a steady increase in both our workload and revenues. During 2011 we were able to hire back 17 staff to work groups across the bureau, maintain, and in some areas, improve service levels, and continue to be responsive to customer and citizen needs.

The increase in staffing level in 2011 allowed the bureau to offset increased workloads and improve services in several areas. Some examples include:

• Permit inspection request response times have improved from 80% to 90% being performed within 24 hours compared to 2010.
  
  
• Enforcement Program is now able to respond to all Housing Complaints received.
  
  
• Incompleteness checks for Type II Land Use Reviews, a good baseline review type, have been reduced from an average of 30 days to 18 days.
  
  
• Permit pre-issuance are being completed within 1 to 2 days of last reviewer sign off for 79% of all permits. This is down from an average of 4 to 5 days in 2010.

ITAP

In 2010 the Bureau of Development Services initiated the Information Technology Advancement Project or ITAP to improve our current permitting and case tracking software and implement a completely paperless permitting, case review, inspection and enforcement processes. The overarching goal of ITAP is to ensure that the bureau provide the most efficient and effective land use and development review to assist employees in doing their work and to provide the best service possible for all its customers. To learn more about ITAP, please visit the ITAP web page.

We also continue to make technological improvements to our existing software and processes including the following major pre-ITAP changes:

Online Fee Estimator 

The TRACS Team has been working on the implementation of an upgraded Public Portal website to our current TRACS software that allows customers to directly access information in TRACS via the web. Currently customers may purchase and schedule inspections online for simple electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits. The next service that will be provided is an online fee estimator and this is currently planned to be in place by the Fall 2012. 

Inspection Limitations and IVR System Upgrade

Inspection limitations would require applicants to pay a per-inspection fee after exhausting the number of inspections requests that come with issued permits. The TRACS Team is in the process of upgrading the IVR system that will allow customers to pay the additional fees via phone using the IVR system. This functionality is currently planned to be in place by the Summer 2012. 

It is vitally important to me that the bureau continues to provide the highest level of service as we continue to adjust and grow. As the Director, I remain committed to managing and improving the City’s development review and compliance processes and being responsive to its community and citizens.

I am constantly looking for new, creative and improved ways to best serve our community and customers. If you have questions or concerns about our services or ideas for improvements, please feel free to contact the Director's Office at bds@portlandoregon.gov.

Sincerely,

Paul L. Scarlett, Director