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Newport council approves several funding and staffing actions, backs state jet-fuel tax bill
Summary
At its meeting, the Newport City Council approved a series of motions including a letter of support for House Bill 2,153, reallocated $89,000 to Agate Beach park work, accepted FEMA grant funding for an underbay waterline design, approved a city manager pay adjustment and authorized recruitment and design contract changes.
The Newport City Council on March __ approved several administrative and funding measures, including a letter backing House Bill 2,153, a reallocation of funds to the Agate Beach Neighborhood Park project, acceptance of federal hazard‑mitigation funding for a seismically resilient waterline design and authorization of a city attorney recruitment contract.
The council voted to authorize the mayor to sign a letter of support for House Bill 2,153, a proposal before the Oregon House that would increase the jet fuel tax by 3 cents and direct revenues to Oregon Department of Aviation grant programs. Councilor DeCoby moved the motion; Councilor Emond seconded. The council approved the motion by voice vote.
Councilors also approved transferring $89,000 from the City Hall landscape improvement project to the Agate Beach Neighborhood Park Rehabilitation Project after staff reported higher-than-expected construction and design costs for both projects. Councilor Ehman moved the reallocation; Councilor Rumigo seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.
The council accepted a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program award administered by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to fund phase 1 (design) work for the Underbay Waterline Crossing Project. The agreement secures $503,613 in grant funds toward a phase‑1 design total of $559,570 and covers $27,978.50 in management costs. A council motion to approve the agreement and authorize the city manager to execute it passed by voice vote.
On personnel and contracts the council approved a $2,500 annual salary increase for the city manager, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, following the manager’s annual performance evaluation. The motion passed with one abstention recorded during the voice vote. The council also authorized contracting with a recruitment firm to lead the search for an in‑house city attorney; staff recommended WBCP Consulting and the council directed the city manager to enter into an agreement with that firm. The council approved an addendum increasing design services for the Agate Beach neighborhood and dog park project by $14,600 to cover redesign work prompted by right‑of‑way issues and grant requirements.
The actions were taken as staff described budget pressures, project design changes and grant timelines. Several councilors asked that final correspondence on House Bill 2,153 also be shared with local legislators including Representative David Gomberg and Senator **** Anderson.
Votes at a glance: the council adopted all motions described above by voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript. Where recorded in the meeting, one abstention was logged on the city manager pay adjustment (speaker did not state a name on the record portion of the transcript).
