Newberg City Council refines multi-year goals, orders staff studies on land tax, traffic cameras and road funding

The Newberg City Council met in a Saturday work session to review and revise its multi-year strategic goals, instruct staff to research several potential policy tools and confirm follow-up steps on public-safety and infrastructure projects.

The council left a consolidated list of project goals on the table and asked staff for specific studies and timelines: look into the legal feasibility of a vacant industrial-land tax, restart procurement for a red-light/speed camera program after terminating the current contractor, and produce a report within roughly a year on revenue options from a local gasoline tax and EV-charging fees that could supplement or replace the city—s utility line item for road maintenance.

Why it matters: Council goals will shape the city—s work plan and capital priorities for the next several years, including where staff focus scarce grant-writing and engineering resources. Several of the items discussed — expanding the urban growth boundary, new permitting software and potential new local taxes or fees — carry legal, fiscal and community- engagement implications that the council asked staff to scope in writing before any formal ordinance or ballot measure.

Council direction and key decisions

- Goals and process: Councilors spent the session working through a draft goals list the staff had posted for the meeting. The list separates project goals with finish targets from ongoing aspirational objectives; the council approved keeping the set of goals and asked that staff return a draft resolution suitable for the consent calendar summarizing the final list.

- Vacant industrial-land tax: The idea of a tax on underused industrial parcels was discussed as a way to spur development. The council did not adopt the tax but by consensus authorized staff to research its legal feasibility and report back. The council specifically asked staff to return…