Newport council approves grants, lease assignment, legal spending and council goals

The Newport City Council voted on a series of financial, contract and policy items, authorizing grant matches and engineering work for airport hangars, consenting to a lease assignment for airport property, approving additional legal spending for aquatic center litigation and adopting its fiscal-year 2025–26 goals.

The actions were taken during the city council regular meeting. Councilors unanimously carried each motion as described below; where a mover or seconder was named in the public record, that name is recorded.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar: Approved. Motion by Councilor Jacoby; second by Councilor Rumagu. Outcome: motion carries.

- Second amendment to personal services agreement with Clerco (plan review/inspection): Approved. Motion by Councilor Jacoby; second by Councilor Rumagu. Outcome: motion carries. Staff presented the measure as a short extension to avoid a services gap while an RFP is prepared.

- City consent to assignment of a 40‑year land lease (10.8 acres of airport property) from Mick Watkins LLC to Signal Ventures LLC: Approved. Motion by Councilor Jacoby; second by Councilor Hickman. Outcome: motion carries. Staff noted the lease includes a previously negotiated purchase option and that rent escalators begin when monthly payments resume.

- Authorization to execute a Critical Oregon Airport Relief (COAR) grant match of $8,625 for FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) design funding: Approved. Motion by Councilor Emond; second by Councilor Hall. Outcome: motion carries.

- Authorization to execute a COAR grant match of $64,041 to support FAA AIP construction funding for T‑hangar construction (federal allocation ~$768,500): Approved. Motion by Councilor Emond; second by Councilor Jacoby. Outcome: motion carries. Staff said remaining city match will be paid from the airport fund.

- Award of task order #2 (design and services-during-construction) to Precision Airport Engineering for new T‑hangar design: Approved (Local Contract Review Board action). Motion by Councilor Emond; second by Councilor Rumagu. Amount not to exceed $110,000. Outcome: motion carries.

- Supplemental appropriation and contract amendment related to Newport Aquatic Center litigation: Council authorized an appropriation of $100,000 from the Parks & Recreation contingency to cover additional legal fees, and approved amending the existing engagement with Volund Wilkinson LLC to increase authorized spending from $200,000 to $300,000. Motion to appropriate by Councilor Hall; second by Councilor Romigot. Motion to increase engagement authorization also carried. Outcome: both motions carry.

- Adoption of fiscal-year 2025–26 city council goals (seven focus areas, 30 specific items, with one additional sustainability-related placeholder added during discussion): Approved. Motion by Councilor Emond; second by Councilor Hickman. Outcome: motion carries.

Other procedural items

- Council approved routine minutes and executive session minutes on the consent calendar. - Council excused Councilor Hickman from two April meetings by unanimous vote.

Why it matters

The packet actions commit matching funds and contract authority that allow airport hangar design and construction to proceed with federal support, maintain continuity of building-plan review services, and increase the city's legal-authority spending for pending aquatic‑center litigation. Adoption of council goals will guide departmental priorities and the coming budget process.

Ending

Staff told council that several of the funded airport design/construct actions will proceed this year and that the airport and city finance staff will account for grants and matches in the appropriate funds. Councilors also asked for follow‑up reports on timelines and reimbursements where federal and state grants are involved.