[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6125272,"mediaKeyId","2677537-cb958edcea9b61561574ad8c27289051","parentId",2677537,"title","Council narrows Taste Newberg contract, approves small TLT set‑asides for downtown groups and asks for KPIs","audioSeconds",558,"startMs",7480000,"endMs",8038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2677537-cb958edcea9b61561574ad8c27289051&start=7480&end=8038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2677537-cb958edcea9b61561574ad8c27289051/thumbnail_7480000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6125272/Newberg/Yamhill-County/Oregon/Council-narrows-Taste-Newberg-contract-approves-small-TLT-setasides-for-downtown-groups-and-asks-for-KPIs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125272-6743ea0aad56dd23c8ae25f3025eef87/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205763&Signature=Gqg5aJbDYM0WkszakrbOm7iUjH5mS3MenpT7EYIo4FF1-CXk7zvfA2hrz0qYP3i5yWU8sejFHqwh4ldGqdcFoBpKCkMil28YZjvWaIQBFiRaeWgXdRPlC-BtsYvyfec~5pbi7muh1kOmthnLP4H475Fv1HJU7W2LVc5MebVus6ERAZ53jCCx0UVZf8TxQyaNvqqdIkX8dsYVbA8HFDagU2wznLPtmavNw48saRr7bSfgs-LxJLS0qKkp~Yqh9ri3RLu~UW-H3a-x2KWcSpeZxAT3E~jkIEQznmoo8li8RVTvLtPONcBvWYVzfdVdyqUnuxW6bsyRmM1fzOVe0USKXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Newberg, OR","date","2025-03-18T18:03:47Z","article","After extended public comment from the visitor center, chamber and downtown coalition, the Newberg City Council on March 17 amended the proposed destination‑marketing contract with Taste Newberg and approved a revised allocation of transient‑lodging‑tax (TLT) funds that spreads some, but not all, tourism dollars to other local nonprofit groups.

The meeting featured public presentations from representatives of Taste Newberg, the Newberg Downtown Coalition (NDC) and the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce and more than a dozen residents and business owners. Speakers said all three organizations contribute to the visitor experience and the downtown economy: Taste Newberg handles destination marketing and website traffic, the chamber operates the visitor center, and NDC runs downtown events, beautification and merchant support.

Council debate focused on three issues: the length and oversight of any TLT contract, how to ensure funds are used for legally permissible tourism promotion, and how to sustain downtown volunteer work and visitor services. Several councilors said they value the visitor center’s work and were reluctant to cut the chamber’s existing $45,000 annual support. Others argued some downtown functions are not strictly tourism marketing and recommended holding organizations to measurable deliverables.

The council took the following actions:
- Modified the proposed Taste Newberg contract term to a shorter performance period (three years) with contract renewal review during the second year so the organization would have advance notice before any nonrenewal.
- Approved a distribution of the tourism‑dedicated portion of TLT revenue that allocates a small set‑aside to local groups: approximately 3 percent to the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce and 2 percent to the Newberg Downtown Coalition, with the remainder to Taste Newberg (the council instructed staff to convert the motion into final contract percentages and a blended revenue share consistent with the city's TLT formula). The council also directed that the chamber’s existing $45,000 visitor‑center support remain in place in the near term.
- Required that the final contract include specific key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting expectations covering marketing metrics, verification of tourist origin (as required by state law), and documentation of how funds are spent and subcontracted locally when practicable. Staff and councilors emphasized that KPIs should be consistent across any organizations receiving TLT set‑asides.

Councilors emphasized legal compliance with state statute on permissible TLT uses and asked staff to ensure proposed downtown beautification or events funded by TLT can be demonstrated to support tourism (for example by documenting visits from non‑local overnight visitors). Staff advised that some downtown activities clearly fit the statute while others will require clearer factual showing to defend programs if challenged.

The council also asked staff to return with contract language and measurable KPIs and delegated negotiation authority to city staff to finalize the agreement once the contract period, allocation percentages and reporting metrics are written into the document. The council’s motions directed staff to include the KPI language before final signatures and to report back if additional council action is needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Newberg City Council Meeting - March 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After public comment from tourism, chamber and downtown representatives, the council shortened the Taste Newberg contract, approved small TLT set‑asides for the Chamber and Downtown Coalition, and demanded measurable performance metrics for recipients of tourism funds.","taxTitle","Newberg, Yamhill County, Oregon","taxId",56845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125276,"Council directs planning commission to draft vacation‑rental code after public feedback and ad‑hoc recommendations",2728,2176000,4904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2677537-cb958edcea9b61561574ad8c27289051&start=2176&end=4904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2677537-cb958edcea9b61561574ad8c27289051/thumbnail_2176000.jpg","/articles/6125276/Newberg/Yamhill-County/Oregon/Council-directs-planning-commission-to-draft-vacationrental-code-after-public-feedback-and-adhoc-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125276-2cdaf049aeb0cf20985a442c80ff9c9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205763&Signature=D0AnKsJBryU4IKWr8pQSugi1VR7YcSwfiruLKDcIDKPv1RVi9Rt6pLtQ5laWlc015x7H0FWCDCVl7d9nGj9aLQ9ly7tPJyPUQmRHJAAUMrq2KaMOsDljB9VzL8crIJqysww13amzy-ArbYBsopAo21NmqG63mZf~C43oZOJMsy7R9OSBxES6CqXYmwjfa6~Ti7KzixxgS3~6FNYEqhfeokiwMYu~CUiKN42Dpkrc3DzhreBRZjhk2GERZ3lYYy39F5jH0PBLrwjug1HAYiUrkRxJr1FuWTq9RmF4KUSp88hZrccNcxND-hgfaICNfF2dI~c5g7xrsyIlHaWzs8MXkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newberg City Council received a policy update on short‑term/vacation rental home regulations on March 17 and directed staff and the Planning Commission to move the ad‑hoc committee’s recommendations into code drafting.

Assistant Planner James Dingwall summarized engagement held in late 2024 — two library open houses, an operator forum, a virtual open house and an online survey that drew 94 responses and 24 open‑house attendees. The process considered four principal policy questions: whether to limit the number of vacation rentals, what approval process should apply, how long permits should last and what operator noticing and management responsibilities should be required.

Dingwall presented the ad‑hoc committee recommendation for a 2% citywide cap on vacation rental homes and explained alternatives the Planning Commission had discussed, including density‑based or district‑specific caps, adjacency limits and ownership restrictions. Engagement results showed broad support for limiting the status quo of no cap; more respondents favored a citywide cap (the ad‑hoc proposal) while a nearly equal share supported density or district approaches.

On the approval process, the ad‑hoc committee recommended changing most approvals to a Type 2 administrative procedure (an objective, staff‑level review) rather than the current conditional‑use public hearings required in many residential zones. Dingwall and Planning staff said that change would make most approvals more objective and administrative, but could be combined with refined objective criteria (for example, parking, trash handling, occupancy limits) and trigger thresholds that still require a conditional use for larger or out‑of‑compliance operations.

Key policy directions the council confirmed for code drafting:
- Consider a citywide cap (2% of households), with a one‑year review and biennial monitoring to revisit the cap or move to density‑based limits.
- Shift to an objective, Type 2 approval pathway for the majority of vacation rentals but allow thresholds (for example, number of bedrooms or proximity to other rentals) to trigger conditional‑use review.
- Require annual “good neighbor” contact information notices from operators to ensure a local on‑call contact for complaints and to improve complaint response and tracking.
- Create an amnesty/grandfathering pathway: operators now out of compliance would have 90 days to apply for land‑use approval and up to one year to obtain business licenses and remit transient lodging taxes; failure to come into compliance within the year would end legal operation.

Councilors and public commenters pressed for clear enforcement mechanisms, calibrated penalty structures for noncompliance and a management contact that can respond rapidly to neighborhood complaints. Several commenters urged that permit authority remain with the public Planning Commission for subjective livability questions; others said repetitive, objective impacts (parking, trash, traffic) could be addressed through prescriptive standards and handled administratively.

Dingwall said the next step is code drafting and Planning Commission hearings. The commission will hold workshops and public hearings, refine objective standards if the Type 2 pathway is chosen, and return recommendations to the council for final decisions.","The Newberg City Council received a policy update on short‑term/vacation rental home regulations and directed staff and the Planning Commission to draft code language based on ad‑hoc committee recommendations and public engagement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6125281,"Newberg council adopts annual master fee schedule but pauses higher public-records rates",1761,362000,2123000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2677537-cb958edcea9b61561574ad8c27289051&start=362&end=2123","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2677537-cb958edcea9b61561574ad8c27289051/thumbnail_362000.jpg","/articles/6125281/Newberg/Yamhill-County/Oregon/Newberg-council-adopts-annual-master-fee-schedule-but-pauses-higher-public-records-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125281-a86e039864729e225d7431a68b0de2f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205763&Signature=fS3KB88PXdMT~pye3jQJOVbwqgBqr9oJWoF84I37wTM59Ge3Re6YWACuf2eyTCrhOkMLegg9FQL7npr4oOG-kl2QeiYinheTzQ0LJGDIh-agQAplz~30zqsgQIie85xjtNewaseEAtdAYs~IDOqwBje6MMW4MkHRWOybP9uuQIN7Qvq323Xlb2QYj5oYgmzHi8X1iUgM1msW94KZbBN8PaFlNd3hNNfdBcIcXtZfxgkusHnmpccXSy6Ny~GtuEtTEVeA1Fk-UhxSko6rKfa3FgICdf1TCyn-ZGPjsOFMsa1riEZvZ8NShEK6CSFqQ0j0OdRua7BQpdofDNKP7YsMZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newberg City Council on March 17 adopted an updated Master Fee Schedule that adjusts a range of city charges, but the council voted to pause increases to the public-records request fees while staff and council consider cost, accessibility and comparability with nearby jurisdictions.

The council approved Resolution 2025-3961 (master fee schedule) after hearing a staff presentation from Accounting Manager Dan Koerler and a public comment from Newberg resident Rebecca Wallace, who said the proposed attorney-review rate of $404 per hour and an administrative research charge of $60 per hour create a “paywall” for public records and are higher than nearby jurisdictions.

Koerler told the council the master fee schedule, established in February 2016, is used to consolidate and update fees across departments and that many fees are indexed to CPI or other cost indices. He summarized several changes: the city attorney research rate in public-records processing would increase “from $300 per hour to $404 per hour,” the budget includes a new $50‑per‑hour digital archivist/grant‑writing service, updates to permit and utility fee lines tied to the Citizens Rate Review Committee, and reinsertion of a demolition permit fee under engineering at the base inspection rate of $108.22. He also identified a $1.03 correction in the building mechanical fee schedule and requested a clarifying word change to list a “reinstatement fee” alongside the reinspection fee.

Wallace urged the council to reconsider the public-records fees and to compare Newberg’s rates with McMinnville and Yamhill County. “If residents and local organizations cannot afford to request public records, it creates a paywall to public information, which works against this goal,” she said, referencing Council Goal 4 on transparency.

Council discussion focused on the public‑records fees and how often legal review is required. Staff and the city attorney’s office said the vast majority of routine records requests are not routed to legal review; legal review is used sparingly for redaction and exemption determinations. Because of residents’ concerns and several councilors’ sense that public access should be balanced against cost recovery, the council voted to leave public‑records request fees at the 2024 rates while adopting the rest of the master fee schedule with the stated corrections.

The council also approved a technical motion to adopt the changes Koerler presented and directed staff to implement the minor numeric corrections and clarifying language he requested.

Councilors and staff emphasized that fee waivers and reductions remain available under existing policy for requests that incur minimal staff time and that residents are encouraged to contact the Police Department’s non‑emergency line for parking enforcement matters raised during public comment.

The council closed the administrative hearing and moved on to the next agenda item after the votes.","The Newberg City Council adopted an updated master fee schedule with technical corrections and minor rate fixes but voted to keep public-records search and attorney-review fees at the 2024 level pending further review after residents raised transparency and cost concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council narrows Taste Newberg contract, approves small TLT set‑asides for downtown groups and asks for KPIs

Council directs planning commission to draft vacation‑rental code after public feedback and ad‑hoc recommendations

Newberg council adopts annual master fee schedule but pauses higher public-records rates