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Newport council approves housing support, dam study, park contract and $329,000 ICMA grant
Summary
The Newport City Council unanimously approved funding support for a six-unit transitional housing village, awarded engineering and construction contracts for a dam alternatives analysis and a neighborhood dog park, and accepted a $329,000 ICMA grant to fund an economic mobility position.
Newport — The City Council on Aug. 4 approved a series of measures intended to advance housing, infrastructure and economic-mobility work in Newport.
Councilors authorized use of the city’s affordable housing construction excise tax funds to cover system development charges for Hope Rises Village, a proposed six-unit manufactured-home site paired with a two-year transitional housing program. Derek Tokos, community development director, said the request is similar to a prior council decision that covered system charges for another affordable project. Don Gray, a Hope Rises representative, said the project has cleared several stages of the Oregon Common Application (ORCA) funding process and is seeking remaining funding to begin construction. The council directed the city manager to negotiate a funding agreement and approved the measure by voice vote.
The council also ratified an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to purchase and install a water meter at South Beach Campground. Ron Welsh, engineering staff, said the IGA had been signed July 21 and recommended ratification.
On capital projects, the council approved a professional services contract to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for an alternatives analysis of the Big Creek Dam replacement project. City Engineer Chris Beatty told the council the dam project has been worked on since 2011 and that a third-party alternatives analysis would help the city define a constructible path forward amid funding uncertainty. Several councilors asked about timing and interactions with existing pump-station work and FEMA funding for future construction phases.
The council also awarded a construction contract for Agate Beach neighborhood and dog-park improvements to Jesse Rodriguez Construction LLC. The low bid was $906,201; council authorization included the city manager’s ability to execute the contract subject to final legal review and approval of a supplemental budget transfer by the finance director.
Separately, councilors accepted a $329,000 ICMA Economic Mobility and Opportunity Special Assistance grant (a Gates Foundation-funded ICMA program) to fund a two-year economic mobility program manager and associated planning work; the council authorized the city manager to accept the grant pending legal review.
All motions carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition in the meeting’s roll call and voice vote exchanges.
Votes at a glance - Consent calendar (minutes, committee minutes, receipts): approved (voice vote). - Hope Rises Village: authorized use of affordable housing excise tax funds to cover system development charges; manager directed to negotiate a funding agreement (approved, voice vote). - Oregon Parks & Recreation IGA (South Beach meter): ratified (approved, voice vote). - Authorization for the city manager to approve IGAs up to $100,000: approved (voice vote). - ICMA grant acceptance ($329,000): approved (voice vote). - Jacobs Engineering Group — Big Creek Dam alternatives analysis contract: awarded; manager authorized to execute subject to attorney review (approved, voice vote). - Jesse Rodriguez Construction LLC — Agate Beach neighborhood and dog park construction ($906,201): contract awarded; manager authorized to execute subject to attorney review and budget transfer (approved, voice vote). - Administrative items: two excused-absence motions for councilors approved (voice vote).
Why it matters The council’s actions move forward several projects that shape housing availability, park amenities and long-term infrastructure planning in Newport. The Hope Rises decision uses locally held affordable housing excise tax funds to reduce upfront costs for a small transitional-housing development; the Big Creek Dam study aims to identify feasible options for a long-stalled capital project that affects nearby property owners. The ICMA grant will fund staff capacity to plan economic-mobility initiatives.
What’s next Most approvals direct staff to return with agreements or contract documents for final execution or budget adjustments. The Hope Rises funding agreement and the construction contract for Agate Beach both require follow-up administrative steps before work begins. The Big Creek alternatives analysis will proceed with Jacobs Engineering Group under terms to be finalized after attorney review.
