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Votes at a glance: Newport council approves code changes, grants and capital items; several items deferred
Summary
At Tuesday’s meeting the Newport City Council approved multiple ordinances and purchases, authorized grant applications and deferred an overlay-district ordinance for further planning review.
The Newport City Council recorded a series of approvals and actions at its regular meeting, moving forward on building-code updates, budget amendments, capital purchases and grant applications while deferring a proposed commercial advertising overlay district for additional planning review.
Key outcomes
- Council approved second reading of Ordinance 2024-O7 to amend the municipal code’s residential size provisions to define a 1,000-square-foot minimum total area for a residential structure with a process for variances.
- Council approved a budget amendment (ordinance referenced in the packet) for local municipal matters and a separate first-reading budget amendment for Newport Family School.
- Council approved ordinances adopting an internal control manual and updating building and energy codes to the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code and related building-code updates intended to meet Fire Marshal recommendations.
- The council authorized Newport Utilities to apply for a USDA grant in the amount of $400,000 to support portable-generator purchases and emergency power resilience, and the council recorded a motion to accept the associated resolution.
- The council approved the installation of a turn-arrow signal and other signal changes at Broadway and Lincoln Avenue to address traffic congestion caused by interstate closures; staff estimated the long-term cost at about $900,000 and said that cost is not reimbursable.
- Council approved two side-by-side utility vehicles for Woodland Park maintenance and authorized replacement of a vehicle for the code-enforcement office; staff said funds were available in the budget for those purchases.
- The council approved park and community-center fee increases proposed by Parks & Recreation, including higher rates for private pool parties and pavilion rentals; new rates were said to take effect later after final scheduling details.
- The council approved cancellation of remaining contracts with a landscape-design firm for parts of the city’s 10-year parks master plan and directed staff to pursue a transition to a new designer recommended by parks staff.
- Council directed staff to pursue re-opening a gated street access used previously to limit traffic under a railroad trestle; council members discussed coordinating with current property owners and assessing liability and traffic impacts before reopening both impacted streets.
Deferred or no action
- A proposed commercial advertising overlay district that would have permitted billboards near the interstate (Ordinance 2024-13) was placed back on the planning commission’s calendar for re-review; the council took no action and asked planning staff to revisit the item.
- A police high-visibility grant item was identified as having been placed on the agenda prematurely and was moved to the January agenda for formal consideration.
Voting and roll calls
Several items were approved by roll call. When council members were polled the record shows recorded affirmative votes from Aldermen Mike Hansel, Louanna Ottinger, Randy Reagan and Vice Mayor Connie Ball on multiple roll-call items. The meeting transcript records the council’s voice or roll-call approvals without naming motion makers for most items.
What it means: The approvals advance the city’s recovery- and operations-focused priorities — building-code updates, utility resilience projects, and capital maintenance — while the planning commission will re-evaluate billboard zoning before the council considers it further.
