City Manager Will presented a consolidated three‑year review of city metrics to the Newberg City Council, reporting a drop in planning decisions and housing starts, higher payroll costs and unexpectedly flat water production.

Will said planning decisions averaged 11.6 per month in 2022, 11.7 in 2023 and fell to 8.58 in 2024, while single‑home building permits dropped from an average of 15 per month in 2022 to six in the latest year. "That shows the general slowdown in housing construction nationally has also been happening here in our town," he said.

The presentation framed the slowdown as a mixed outcome: fewer new homes reduces housing‑unit creation but also slows expected increases in water consumption, which Will said could push back the timetable for a new water plant. He reported average water production of about 69 megagallons in 2022, 70.3 in 2023 and 71 in 2024 and said, "If [water production leveling] does, it would further push back the year by which we must have that new water plant."

On finance, Will said payroll rose despite no net staff increase. He reported average monthly payroll of $930,000 in 2022, about $1.01 million in 2023 and $1.12 million in 2024, and attributed the increase to higher pay‑related costs and health insurance rather than cost‑of‑living adjustments. "That is an average of a 9% payroll cost expense increasing throughout those 3 years," he said.

Will also highlighted positive trends: public safety calls for service held steady, 9‑1‑1 calls rose modestly, and he said library circulation climbed from about 23,000 in 2022 to roughly 32,000 in 2024. "We have one of the very best libraries in this state and an ever more engaged community," he said.

Councilors asked for follow up on program specifics. Councilor Elise requested confirmation about contacts with ODOT and timeline questions about revenue tied to library circulation; Will replied that some circulation‑linked support comes through a three‑county consortium rather than the state. Councilors also pressed for more detail about planned housing starts at Cullina Crossing and what the statistics mean for near‑term water planning.

City staff did not propose immediate policy changes during the presentation; Will closed by urging council and staff to monitor housing starts and water production closely in 2025.

Ending: The council did not take formal action on the report; members asked staff to provide additional detail on specific items raised, including library funding rules and projected payroll impacts for future budgets.