NEWBERG, Ore. — The Newberg City Council met for the first time in 2026 on Jan. 20, hearing presentations on the demolition and rebuilding of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s Station 20, a workforce housing development proposal, a proposed property partition on Zimri Drive, an update on sister-city relationships, and other city business.
The full meeting can be viewed on the city’s YouTube page.
Attendance
- Councilor Mike McBride
- Councilor Robyn Wheatley
- Councilor Peggy Kilburg
- Councilor Bill Rosacker
- Councilor Jeri Turgesen
- Councilor Derek Carmon
- Councilor Elise Yarnell-Hollamon (remote)
City Manager’s Report
City Manager Will Worthey provided an overview of city operations for December.
The city’s new street sweeper was named Sir Sweeps A Lot following a naming contest with Newberg youth. Worthey said the city expects to complete groundwater treatment plant covers in April 2026, pending timely delivery of materials, and plans to provide an update on River Street construction plans to the council in February.
Worthey also reported that the city implemented a new online court payment system, citywide water consumption declined slightly in December, and 224 cubic yards of compost were donated to the community. He said Newberg experienced high wastewater levels following atmospheric river storms, resulting in a sewage spill on Fernwood Road.
Worthey said the city is researching mitigation options, including the construction of a larger sewer line to accommodate population growth tied to housing development. He said the city is seeking funding sources to raise approximately $2 million to address the issue long-term.
From the public safety side, Worthey said the Newberg-Dundee Police Department held its 2025 Shop with a Cop program, serving 30 children at Fred Meyer and raising more than $6,000 in donations from residents and businesses. The department also hired M. Anderson as a new officer, who will attend the police academy for 16 weeks.
Mayor Bill Rosacker said he recently used a spare wheelchair belonging to Newberg resident Jessy Phares-Cunningham to travel from her Springbrook-area residence to the Newberg Public Safety Building. He urged residents to trim hedges and bushes that encroach on sidewalks to improve accessibility for people who rely on mobility assistance.
Public Comment
Due to the volume of speakers, Rosacker reduced public comment time from five minutes to four minutes per person.
Editor’s note: A list of public commenters was not available at press time. Names may be misspelled. Public comments are summarized from statements made. Full comments can be viewed in the City of Newberg City Council recording.
Bill Kolb, Newberg resident, appeared to thank the council for its work and for holiday lighting in town.
Cathy Cook, Newberg resident, thanked the council and public safety officers for fostering a safe and welcoming community. She also thanked the city for cooperating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, which Worthey later clarified was inaccurate, noting the city does not coordinate directly with ICE due to Oregon sanctuary laws.
Jessica Yu, Newberg resident, thanked the council for responding to her concerns about ICE enforcement activity and the identification of masked individuals if a threat is perceived. She read from an email from Police Chief Jeff Kosmicki, who told her that residents concerned about ICE activity may record from a safe distance without antagonizing officers. He also stated that residents should call 911 if they legitimately fear a kidnapping or witness one, though such incidents are rare.
Yu also cited a later email from NDPD Public Information Officer Ryan Simmons stating that NDPD will verify the identity of ICE agents if officers are called to a scene, as ICE agents may operate without uniforms or visible identification.
Elaine Constella, Newberg resident, declined to speak because her remarks were prepared for five minutes instead of four, but asked the council to remain aware of national events and to consider moral responsibility.
Margaret Sanborn, Newberg resident, read a statement on behalf of Michael Roberts, owner of Cream Northwest, expressing opposition to ICE activity and calling for accountability and identification of agents. Speaking personally, Sanborn also expressed concern about ICE operations and urged the city to prepare for potential increases in activity.
Mike Gunn, Dundee resident, said the federal government has exclusive authority over immigration law and asserted that while sanctuary laws prevent local assistance to ICE, they also prohibit interference.
Elaine Constella returned to the podium to express dissatisfaction with ICE activity nationally and locally, as well as with President Donald Trump. She thanked council members and public safety officials for keeping her safe, but said others in the community feel targeted by immigration enforcement.
Jessy Phares-Cunningham, Newberg resident, requested greater attention to Americans with Disabilities Act initiatives that may not always be voiced publicly but are necessary. She also asked the council to allow written public comments to be read into the record.
TVF&R Station 20 Rebuild
Corrine Haning, public affairs officer for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, presented an update on the rebuild of Station 20 in downtown Newberg. The original station was built in 1940 and has undergone multiple repairs, most recently in 2012.
Read: Newberg’s TVF&R Fire Station 20 Rebuild to Get New Look, Functionality
TVF&R Director Heidi Hicks outlined plans for a temporary station at the property adjacent to Station 20 and another at Station 21 on Middlebrook Drive. Hicks said the Station 20 rebuild will be the largest project the district has undertaken to date and will reconfigure the building for improved access.
She said the new design incorporates trauma-informed design principles to reduce contamination risks and provide spaces for firefighters to decompress and process events. The building will also be rotated 90 degrees to allow pull-through bays, eliminating the need for trucks to back into the station.
Haning discussed the Newberg Fire bell, which will be preserved and installed in the new station. The bell was ordered in 1898, the same year the Newberg Fire Department was established, from a Cincinnati-based manufacturer at a cost of $170, funded through local fundraising efforts, including an ice cream social hosted by firefighters.
“We recognize and honor that saying goodbye to Station 20 is bittersweet for the historic presence it’s had in the community for so long,” Haning said. “But as the current fire chief said in a recent Newsberg article, ‘the spirit of service it represents remains strong.’”
Haning and Hicks also provided an update on the future Station 22, known as the Chehalem Station, planned for the corner of Dopp and North Valley roads. The existing home on the property will be converted into a station, with fundraising underway to complete the project.
Construction on the temporary facility is expected to begin in February.
HIVE Housing Presentation
Ryan Olsen, a construction professional and spokesperson for the Housing Innovation Village Experience, or HIVE, presented an overview of a housing project aimed at addressing a gap in mid-range housing, particularly for first-time homebuyers.
Olsen said the Newberg Workforce Housing Consortium has raised $3 million for the project, and the Missing Middle Housing Fund has been working to bring middle housing options to Newberg. The project is located at 3509 N. College St.
Homes developed in the project are expected to sell in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. The development will include eight units arranged around a large central corridor. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Dec. 5, with site and utility work anticipated to begin by June 2026. Home construction is expected to begin in July 2026, with completion projected for September or October.
“The neat thing about these, because they’re modular, is that some of them will be completed start to finish in two weeks,” Olsen said. “Most will be from zero to move-in in under a month.”
Olsen said the development will host a “Street of Dreams”-style open house over three weekends once completed.
Nathan Young, CEO and Principal Builder of Mods PDX said the project also supports workforce development by training future cohorts to replicate the model elsewhere.
Adrienne Fainman of Cedarstone Design & Build spoke in support of the project, noting that individual homes have already been built successfully and that scaling the concept will be the primary challenge.
Councilor Yarnell-Hollamon asked how the council could assist. Olsen and Young said streamlining approvals through master plans and potentially reducing or waiving system development charges could help.
Zimri Drive Partition Recommendation
Associate Planner James Dingwall presented a proposed three-lot partition of an unincorporated parcel at 3301 NE Zimri Drive, located within the urban reserve but outside city limits.
Resolution No. 2026-4008 recommends that Yamhill County approve the partition. The county will have final authority.
Rosacker moved to waive the second reading of the resolution, seconded by Councilor Kilburg. The motion passed unanimously. Rosacker then moved to adopt the resolution, seconded by Carmon, and it passed unanimously.
Sister-City Support
Rosacker added the agenda item to continue discussion on sister-city relationships, noting the wine industry’s economic importance to the region. David Adelsheim spoke in support of maintaining the relationship with Poysdorf, Austria.
“Having Poysdorf as an official part of Newberg going forward means Newberg is open to its current wine industry and its future wine industry for investment,” Adelsheim said. “Closing the door on that relationship would mean closing the door on an important part of our economy.”
Brandon Slyter outlined a proposed nonprofit, Connect Newberg, to support sister-city relationships. He said the organization would be volunteer-led and community-driven and would not seek city funding.
Slyter cited the longstanding student exchange with Asago City, Japan, and the presence of Japanese companies in Newberg, and said he believes Poysdorf could reach a similar level of connection through exchanges and the wine industry.
“My main ask from the city is to please be supportive, at least verbally, and maintain the sister-city relationships we do have diplomatically,” he said.
PASER Code Change
Worthey presented Ordinance No. 2026-2942, a minor change recognizing LiDAR Phaser technology as part of the city’s road maintenance toolkit.
Rosacker moved to waive the second reading, seconded by McBride, and the motion passed unanimously. The ordinance was then approved unanimously following a motion by Rosacker, seconded by Kilburg.
Council President
The council elected a new council president for 2026. McBride nominated Carmon, seconded by Rosacker. The nomination passed unanimously.
Newberg City Council is scheduled to meet on January 29 at 6 p.m. for an executive session, which is closed to the public. The next city council meeting is Monday, February 2, at 6 p.m. See agendas as they’re released at the City of Newberg website.
