Newberg Downtown Coalition asks council for stable TLT funding; council agrees manager may release $5,000

Brandon Anderson, co-executive director of the Newberg Downtown Coalition, asked the City Council on Feb. 3 for regular annual funding tied to the city’s transient lodging tax to stabilize the group’s operations and allow it to pursue grants and downtown projects.

“We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to making our downtown more vibrant, engaging, and beautiful for residents, businesses, and tourists alike,” Anderson said, describing the Coalition’s volunteer-run operations and the need for reliable operational funds. He asked the council to consider “2.5% of the total transient lodging tax or TLT dollars of the next budget cycle” to cover basic operating costs and free the Coalition to seek project funding.

Why it matters: Coalition leaders said predictable operational funding would let them rejoin the Oregon Main Street program, pursue matching grants, coordinate beautification and events, and better support downtown merchants. Anderson said the Coalition’s annual operating budget has been “slim” (about $50,000 in the prior year) and that repeated short-term fundraising interferes with grant applications and planning.

Kate Abora, introduced as co-executive director, described how operational stability would enable coordinated merchant contributions for cleaning, planters and facade work and make it easier to pursue grants. Abora said the Coalition also supports an increase in the city’s TLT rate if the increase would be dedicated to the organization; she said the Allison Inn and Spa owner Lonnie Parish has endorsed an increase that would be earmarked for the Coalition.

Council response and near-term funding: Councilors asked staff for numbers and expressed general support for a work session to examine funding options. Council members and the city manager discussed whether the city could release existing community support funds immediately to help the Coalition survive the next few months. The city manager told council that there is roughly $5,240 currently in the community support fund.

After discussion the council agreed that the city manager has the authority to release up to $5,000 from the community support fund to the Newberg Downtown Coalition to bridge the organization until the next budget cycle. The council also directed staff to add a more detailed work session on downtown funding to a future agenda so the council can review a proposal and numbers together.

What the Coalition proposed and next steps: Anderson asked that the Coalition be written into the city budget for future cycles and detailed how rejoining the Oregon Main Street program would provide technical assistance and grant opportunities. He said the requested 2.5% of TLT would be “enough to directly cover our operational costs” so other contributions could go to projects such as beautification, events and wayfinding.

Council members who spoke indicated support for a more detailed work session and for exploring both a community support payment to get the Coalition through the immediate shortfall and a longer-term funding path tied to the budget process.

Votes and formal actions: The council unanimously approved the consent calendar earlier in the meeting. On the Coalition request, councilors did not take a formal vote to amend the budget; instead they directed staff to schedule a work session and confirmed by consensus that the city manager has authority to release up to $5,000 from the community support fund to the Newberg Downtown Coalition.

Ending: The council scheduled more detailed consideration of the Coalition’s funding proposal during the upcoming budget process and added a work session item to a future agenda so members can review specific budget numbers and any proposed TLT changes together.