Does anyone have recommendations or suggestions for general contractors and architects with experience dealing with the city of Portland for a moderate size project like this? 

Jon Holdman regularly points this out, perhaps not even prominently enough. that the strategy is unheard ofSimply look at all the posts about it.

They are helpful but you are the final architect of your direct response campaign.Grandma's usually don't mail with a Pitney Bowes meter machine.

Either way, my call to action probably needs to be more prominent, like you suggested.

The project was fully permitted and inspected... yet neither the architect/engineer's license, the builder's license, nor the existence of a building permit and the subsequent inspections that occurred, prevented the collapse.I know several excellent construction companies who are fully licensed but the licensee knows little-to-nothing about construction - they are excellent business persons though and surround themselves with talented and knowledge construction (and other) teammates.  

Cars are certainly complicated, so are buildings and require architects to design them and engineers to assure the buildings will be safe.

I spoke with three of his past clients and then even our architect vetted him.

I've gone as far as having an architect draw up preliminary plans for the permit application. 

Check with an architect.

You should talk to a builder or architect and see what options you have.