The Newport Urban Renewal Agency held its organizational meeting and elected Councilor Robert Eben as chair and Councilor Sandy Rumagu as vice chair.

Derek Tokos, community development director, told agency members the city has three urban renewal districts: South Beach (established 1983; closing to new projects at the end of the calendar year and formally closing in 2027), a North Side district formed in 2015 that Tokos said runs through about 2040 and is at its peak activity, and a small McLean Point district focused on supporting industrial development around the Port International Terminal and financing a wastewater lift station.

Tokos said most urban renewal funding is directed to capital projects such as new streets, water and sewer work, property acquisition and public-space improvements, and that much of the agency's work centers on updating plans, community engagement and project implementation.

Nominations for chair and vice chair were made during the meeting; the council voted to appoint Robert Eben as chair and Sandy Rumagu as vice chair. Both votes carried with all members saying "aye."