Bob Woodruff, chair of Newberg’s Historic Preservation Commission, presented the commission’s six‑year work plan to the City Council on April 7 and asked the council to formally endorse the plan and support grant pursuit and education activities.

Woodruff said the commission has two primary goals: preserving historic structures and preserving human histories. The plan calls for an updated historic property inventory (the last inventory dates to the 1990s), professional surveys supported by grant funding, public education and oral history collection, and exploration of a downtown historic district.

The nut graf: the commission proposes a phased approach tied to the Certified Local Government grant cycle: a preparation year to ready grant applications and complete volunteer inventories; a professional inventory in year two; identification of at‑risk buildings in year three; research and public outreach on a potential downtown historic district in year four; and development of a restoration program and awards in years five and six.

Woodruff described local partnerships, including a plan for George Fox University students to collect oral histories at the Old Fashioned Festival, and said the commission wants to make resources available to property owners considering rehabilitation. He said staff liaisons have supported the commission during recent staffing changes and requested council approval to proceed with the work plan and seek grant funding.

Councilor Mike moved and a second was recorded to encourage the Historic Preservation Commission to proceed with the presented six‑year work plan. The council approved the motion by voice vote, recorded unanimously.

Councilors commended the commission for its organization and called the museum idea flexible — potentially a partnership with George Fox University or the Newberg library rather than a stand‑alone building.

The commission will now pursue preparation tasks for grant applications under the Certified Local Government program and return with grant requests and scope documents as funding opportunities are developed.