NEWBERG, Ore. — The Newberg City Council on Oct. 5 approved Resolution 2026-4050 unamiously, which repeals Resolution 2021-3730 and updates policies and procedures for the Newberg Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Leanne Wagener, an associate planner in the city’s Community Development Department, presented the resolution, which removes the Time Sensitive Loan or Grant Program, minimizes loan opportunities, and raises grant amounts.
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Wagener said the Time Sensitive Loan or Grant Program, which accepted applications year-round, was discontinued because of a lack of interest. The city posted the grant in its usual notice of funding availability, which she believed drew one application. The goal of the removal is to allow larger amounts to be disbursed through the fund’s three remaining grant and loan programs, she said.
“We didn’t have anyone reach out to us at other times during the year,” Wagener said.
The Competitive Awards Program, which previously issued requests for proposals each year on or near July 1, will now issue them “on a competitive basis,” according to the resolution. For-profit applicants are eligible only for loans, while nonprofits can receive grants and must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status when applying.
The Manufactured Home Rehabilitation and Repair Grant Program, which previously awarded between $200 and $1,000, now awards up to $2,500 for a single project without matching funds and up to $5,000 with a 1-to-1 match from sources other than the fund, according to the resolution. The Rehabilitation Grant Program, which helps landlords and homeowners repair dwellings for low-income families, was previously a loan program and now has the same limits.
“This is one of these things which philosophically falls in line with some other things you’ve seen over the last several years in the regard of the city not wanting to function as a bank and not wanting to have banking style accounts for staff to manage,” City Manager Will Worthey said of the switch to grants.
Loans will still be offered through the Competitive Awards Program, which is to receive at least 50% of available funds each year, according to the resolution. The council may make exceptions to award up to the total balance, minus the 5% retained for administrative purposes. The fund held approximately $72,177 as of the meeting, with $68,568.15 available for awards after the administrative fee, according to the request for council action.
Wagener said the revisions were meant to clear the way for a new notice of funding availability for the remaining balance, potentially through a competitive grant award. The Newberg Affordable Housing Commission will discuss it at its October meeting, she said.
Also at the Oct. 5 meeting
10 public comments received
One resident thanked the council for its work, citing city beautification, fiscal management, support for law enforcement, loan reduction, and efforts to listen to all sides.
Five speakers expressed support for immigrants in the community, saying they are experiencing fear about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the region. One speaker criticized the flagpole memorial policy the council considered at its previous meeting, saying community members perceived the decision to prohibit memorials there as limiting free speech. Another invited councilors to meet outside the meeting to discuss immigrant perspectives.
Two speakers commended the council and other attendees for exercising First Amendment rights and called for civility and unification in Newberg, and another thanked the council for allowing people to speak.
Melody McMaster asked the council to consider reopening the Jaquith Park pickleball courts while waiting for soundproofing materials to arrive. She said a sign on the closed courts said they would reopen in mid-August.
Council approves River Street RFP scope
City Manager Will Worthey read the scope for the River Street project’s request for proposals, or RFP, to the council at council members’ request from the previous meeting, Sept. 21. He emphasized transparency, including having a member of the River Street Ad-Hoc Committee participate in scoring proposals.
Worthey said RFPs are typically managed by city staff and do not go before the council for approval. To his knowledge, no other RFP scope has been presented to the council this way.
The scope calls for the design to follow the River Street Design Concept developed by the committee, including keeping the project within the existing 58-foot corridor to the greatest extent reasonably feasible. Any expansion beyond the corridor would be allowed only if the consultant demonstrates that reasonable alternatives within it are not feasible or would substantially conflict with engineering, ADA, stormwater, or safety requirements, according to the scope presentation.
Worthey pledged to stay involved throughout the project.
“To those who have doubted my integrity publicly, let me say it will be a matter of personal honor that I will make sure that these primary objectives will be met and I will be there every step of the way,” Worthey said.
