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City awarded up to $100,000 for housing capacity analysis; commission invited to advisory role and reviews new council rules
Summary
Staff told the commission Newberg secured up to $100,000 in a state housing planning assistant grant with Cascadia Partners; staff proposed using the planning commission (with interested affordable housing commissioners) as the advisory body and reviewed updates to council rules including quorum, public-comment registration and voting practices.
City staff announced that Newberg was awarded up to $100,000 from the state’s housing planning assistant program to carry out a local housing capacity analysis. The city has partnered with Cascadia Partners as the consultant, and staff said the scope of work has been submitted to the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) for review; staff estimated a contract could be ready for signatures in about four to six weeks.
"We were awarded up to a $100,000 from the state to carry out our housing capacity analysis," staff said, and noted the scope of work will feed into the city’s housing production strategy required by the state. Instead of forming a separate advisory committee, staff proposed that the planning commission — together with interested members of the Affordable Housing Commission — serve as the advisory body for the project, with hybrid (virtual and occasional in-person) participation options.
Staff also highlighted proposed updates to city council rules that may affect commissions. Key clarifications include how quorum is calculated for committees, guidance on the presiding officer, the order of business, and a requirement for public comment registration for commissions to reduce disruptive behavior. Commission members discussed voting practices on Zoom and preferred continuing roll-call votes for substantive recommendations to ensure accurate records, and they agreed to keep approving minutes as a check on accuracy.
Staff said they will circulate the scope and a written description of advisory participation once the contract is finalized and will inform the commission before the city council presentation. Members confirmed the next commission meeting on April 28.
