River Street Ad-hoc Committee Meeting - May 12, 2026

The City of Newberg held an ad-hoc committee meeting on May 12, 2026, focused on the River Street improvement project. The discussion centered on the planning, design options, and funding mechanisms for reconstructing River Street as a community-oriented complete street that supports multimodal transportation including pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Committee members and city staff reviewed state requirements for bicycle infrastructure under Oregon law, potential impacts on residents' property rights and yards, and the need for detailed land surveys to inform design decisions. The committee also considered various design alternatives to minimize impacts on trees and existing utilities, and discussed the use of tax increment financing (NURA funds) and system development charges (SDC) to fund the project, with a total budget of approximately $10 million. The group emphasized the importance of community input, transparency, and balancing safety, livability, and historic character preservation. No final contract awards or vendor selections were made, but the committee planned to continue refining design options and scheduling future meetings to guide city council decisions.