Ordinance 8768 Deconstruction and Diversion Requirements

At a glance

Based on human-uploaded captions, which may still contain errors.

What: Ordinance 8768 would amend the city code on deconstruction and diversion requirements (replacing parts of the current ordinance, Ordinance 8366) to add clarity, prioritize reuse and add graduated fines for repeat noncompliance.
Where it stands: the Planning Board hearing on October 20, 2026 stopped after the board lost its quorum. No recommendation was made and no public comment was taken.
Next: the item must be reposted; November 17 was mentioned as the next possible Planning Board meeting. Staff plan first reading at City Council on November 19 and a public hearing on December 3. Proposed effective date: July 1, 2027.

Shared definitions of terms; reuse prioritized, with aggregates excluded from the three-material-type count.
A defined variance pathway with reasons and timing.
Graduated fines for contractors with violations on two or more permits: $1,500, $3,000, then $6,000 for the third and later, after notice and a quasi-judicial hearing.
Unchanged: 75% diversion by weight, the $1 per square foot deposit (minimum $1,500), license suspension under Chapter 4-1 and municipal court prosecution.
Residential rules would mirror the commercial changes.

Current rules took effect July 1, 2020; 218 projects with data averaged about 70% diversion; 53% of projects compliant.
Five contractors had compliance of 0-8% and two more 33-44%, and they pull the most permits.
About 65% of covered permits are in neighborhoods ranked 1 or 2 on the city's Racial Equity Index.

Claudia Hansen asked how the fine levels relate to the deposit; staff said they double from the $1,500 deposit minimum and can be revisited after compliance is evaluated.
The City Attorney's Office said repeat-violation penalties are common.

Open. See Planning Board Member Recusal on Deconstruction Ordinance for why the hearing could not continue.
The Environmental Advisory Board reviewed it October 7.

About 33 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-20 - Planning Board	33

2026-10-20 - Planning Board - Emily Freeman presented the ordinance; board questions began, then the hearing ended when the quorum was lost.

Agenda lists "Review Feedback Summary for Deconstruction Ordinance" under old business (agenda only).

No Council item for the ordinance appears in the November 12 or 19 draft agendas reviewed.