NEWBERG, Ore. — The Newberg City Council met Dec. 15 for its regularly scheduled meeting to fill vacancies on several commissions, approve a library bathroom remodel, and update departmental customer service standards.

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Attendance

  • Councilor Mike McBride
  • Councilor Peggy Kilburg
  • Mayor Bill Rosacker
  • Councilor Elise Yarnell Hollamon
  • Councilor Derek Carmon
  • Councilor Robyn Wheatley

Absent

  • Councilor Jeri Turgesen

City Manager’s Report

City Manager Will Worthey presented a statistics report for October 2025 and introduced the stormwater master planning effort included in Phase 2 of the scope of work.

Worthey said the stormwater plan is part of the current approved city budget and is scheduled to appear as an action item at the next City Council meeting for funding authorization. The cost is estimated at $237,000, about $80,000 less than the initial estimate.

Keller Engineering is the firm on the project.

Worthey said the city will need to review stormwater conditions approximately once every decade.

Public Comments

Five residents addressed the council regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, asking the council to establish a clear response to federal agency activity and to denounce ICE actions.

Three additional residents spoke to praise councilors’ efforts and express appreciation for the council’s focus on local issues.

Consent Calendar

The council unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-4004, updating city employee retirement plans to include a pre-tax investment option. The city does not contribute to the funds, and participation is voluntary.

Continued Business

Departmental Customer Service Standards

The city sought to establish department-specific customer service standards outlining expectations for public-facing teams.

The standards apply to departments that interact directly with the public and focus on the work performed by individual teams, Worthey said.

Departments included community development, the city recorder’s office, finance, human resources, the library, the police department, and public works.

The standards address items such as court preparation, answering overflow utility billing calls, managing employee benefits, handling library materials and reference questions, police response times, and responding to storm and winter events to clear hazards.

The council unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-4009, adopting Volume 2 of the customer service standards.

New Business

Newberg Cultural District Intergovernmental Agreement

Newberg Public Library Director Korie Buerkle presented the annual report on the city’s cultural district board plans.

The presentation highlighted events within the cultural district, including the Camellia Festival, library summer reading programs, Tunes on Tuesday, Lavender Festival, Newveau Festival, and the annual tree lighting.

Buerkle said the cultural board plans in 2026 to reexamine agreements between the city and Chehalem Park and Recreation District established in 2019, as well as explore a parking study to revisit the formula used for street permit applications for events.

No action was taken.

Library Lavatory Remodel

Buerkle said the library has not undergone a restroom remodel since it was built in 1985 and that the facilities are heavily used, averaging about 8,000 visits per month.

Construction for the basic remodel is estimated to cost between $96,000 and $120,000. The project has already been budgeted.

The council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-4005 authorizing the bathroom remodel.

Council Business

The council unanimously approved appointments to fill vacancies resulting from expiring terms and resignations over the past year across several commissions.

Appointments included Joe Churella to the Budget Committee for a four-year term; Bob Woodruff and Phoenix Lamouche to the Historic Preservation Commission for three-year terms; Randy Rickert and Jordan Sandoval to the Planning Commission for three-year terms, along with student Abigail Seits for a one-year term; Leisha Adams and Inen Buerkle to the Rate Review Committee; James Keary, Andrew Miller, Wyle O’Neill, and Tobin Linheart to the Traffic Safety Commission; and Sharee Adkins and Leslie Smestad to the Library Advisory Board for three-year terms.

See the full meeting recording here.