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Council committee refers two Noise Review Board nominees to full council
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Summary
The Committee of the Whole heard presentations on two nominees for the Noise Review Board — Jeremy Maxwell (present) and Martin Lima (absent) — and voted to refer the appointments to full council with a recommendation to approve, after public comment urging more staffing and funding for the noise office.
The Committee of the Whole on April 15 heard from Portland Permitting and Development officials seeking council referral of two nominees to the Noise Review Board.
Eric Kooch, director of Portland Permitting and Development, introduced the nominations and said the board issues variances and advises the city on noise matters. Beth Benton, PPND property compliance division manager, explained that the five-member board includes three community-at-large members, one construction professional and one acoustics professional and that terms run three years.
Jeremy Maxwell — who attended the meeting and identified himself as an East Portland resident and automotive-industry professional — told the committee he was motivated by concerns about equity and livability and by long-standing neighborhood noise disparities. “I believe that noise and its balance and its management are as critical to community well-being as many other measurable aspects of city life,” Maxwell said.
Mary Sipe, a long-serving member of the Noise Review Board who testified during public comment, urged the council to increase funding and staffing for the noise control office. Sipe told the committee the office received more than 2,200 complaints and processed over 600 variance applications in fiscal year 2023–24 and said current staffing levels make thorough enforcement difficult.
Councilors asked questions about candidate experience with specific noise challenges, including the Portland International Raceway and airplane or freeway-related noise that may fall outside the board’s jurisdiction. Councilor Dunphy commended Maxwell and urged support; Councilor Clark and others thanked outgoing members for their service.
A motion to refer report document 2026-137 to city council with the recommendation to accept the two appointments was moved and seconded; a roll-call vote recorded approval. The committee’s referral sends the nominations to the full council for final confirmation.
Next steps: The referral moves the appointments to the full council for consideration and final votes.
