Good evening and welcome to the Newport City Council meeting. Today is Thursday, February 19th, 2026. We'll begin the meeting with a pledge of allegiance. [clears throat] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Will staff please call the role. >> Council member Schmidt >> here. >> Council member Sum >> here. >> Council member Ingamman >> here. >> Council member Taylor >> here. Mayor Elliot >> here. Next in our agenda is to adopt the agenda. Do we have any changes this evening? >> Hearing none, I will move. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> I have a motion from council member Sumar and a second from council member Ingamman. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. The agenda is adopted. Next on our agenda, we have a uh resolution and I'm going to come down front and read that and then I'll make the motion and second in the vote. Come on up with me. [laughter] that way. So, we have some special. >> So, we are you hearing me back there? Yeah, I'm >> Is she getting sound? >> It's It's on. >> Yeah, that's better. >> Okay, it's there. [snorts] >> So, um we have a really very special and heartfelt recognition this evening. Um, and we I have standing up here with me Mike Bailey, Joanne Bailey, or Joe Bailey, I'm sorry, and John Bailey. And um, I think most people are aware that Gordy passed away a week or so ago. And, um, the Bailey family has been a very important part of the Newport community. And I mentioned at our last meeting, their family line goes back to 1849. And each generation of Bailey's has contributed to Newport in their own way. Some a little uh more prevalent that you see it or the name is on something like a road or a school or a park and others contribute in their own way that is more to their style. But no matter how it's done, it's always done in a way that contributes to our community and makes a big difference as to who we are. And I I was thinking, what would Newport be without the Bailey family? Um, and the support of the family line. And specifically, we're here to honor Gordy Jr. tonight. And Gordy did thousands of little things that went unnoticed and unrecognized. And that was just his style. He wasn't flashy. He I think he'd wonder what all the fuss was about. Um, probably chuckle a little bit. Um, but he really made a difference in thousands of people's lives, tens of thousands of people's lives. And I think that was witnessed at the funeral by all of the people who came and attended because he had touched them in such a special way. So I'm going to read the resolution and we'll make our motion to adopt and then I would like to give you a chance to say a few words. So, it's resolution 2016-14 honoring the life of Gordon Gordy Bailey Jr. Whereas Gordon Gordy Bailey was a longtime resident of Newport and a respected member of the community whose life spanned nearly a century of the city's growth and change. Whereas the Bailey family has played a significant role in Newport's history over multiple generations, contributing to the community's economic vitality and sense of place. And whereas through his leadership of the Newport-based business Bailey Nurseries, Inc. and his commitment to service, Gordon Bailey exemplified civic responsibility, community stewardship, and respect for Newport's institutions and people. Whereas his influence was felt not only through formal actions, but through sustained engagement, leadership, and investment in the well-being of the community. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city council of Newport recognizes and honors the life of Gordon Bailey, expresses its gratitude for his contributions to the civic life of the city, and extends its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. With that, I make a motion to adopt. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. You have a motion from the mayor and a second from council member Ingamman. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. I'm not even going to ask for the opposed. [laughter] The resolution is adopted. With that, if you would like to say a few words. Well, thank you very much from [clears throat] the city of Newport and the council for doing this. Um, it was just one thing that Gordy loved doing. You know, as you said, he was probably the most humble person that you've ever seen. We have countless stories of of him and his jacket that he wore hanging together with shreds and whatnot. But anyway, so but he would be very appreciative as would the whole family to receive this because um they've lived in Newport well what would become Newport since 1849. So it was a long time ago and remained here all those years. So we've raised our family of seven kids here and have enjoyed living here all that time. So I in behalf of the family, I thank you very much for this great honor. Thank you. >> Are you good? >> Well, thank you so much for coming out tonight. Um we'll take a few pictures or did you get enough? Do we want the rest of Canada? >> [laughter] >> Yes, >> you guys can see the logo and we're not centered. You're very welcome. [clears throat] >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> It'll be after the council meeting. for her. >> Yeah, your housing development is named. >> And thank you again to the Bailey family. With that, um, we'll move on to public comments. Um, this is where members of the public can address the city council about any local government topic that is not included on our regular agenda. This is limited to concerns which are relevant to the city of Newport affairs policies or practices. We ask that you come to the podium and clearly state your name and address for the record and to limit your comments to about three minutes. Generally, the council will not take action on items discussed at this time, but we'll refer matters to staff if appropriate. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak during public comments? Okay, I see some no thanks uh in the audience. So from there we will move on to the consent agenda. Um is there anything uh that needs to be removed from the consent agenda? >> Okay. >> Hearing none, I'll move the consent agenda. >> I'll second. >> So I have a motion from council member Sumar and a second from council member Ingamman. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. The consent agenda is adopted. Next we have the engineers report. Good evening, Mayor, members of the council. Uh, one item for consideration this evening. Uh, this is regarding the, uh, Met Council INI mitigation grant program. This is, uh, grant program is offered to any communities within the Met Council that have, uh, significant INI issues, and as we know, Newport is uh, one of those communities. uh they uh the med council received about $12 million in funding through the 2023 uh legislator legislative session and uh they prorate that out to all the communities that choose to participate in the program. Uh we had submitted our plan for uh mitigate or INI mitigation efforts uh as part of this program. we were accepted into it and we anticipate receiving around $340,000 in grant funds uh to reimburse the city for work that we have already done. So the resolution before you is a uh is a resolution to enter into an end grant agreement with Met Council. This is a agreement that we've uh entered into in the past for similar programs. Uh they require this resolution to be submitted along with the documentation for the work performed. So, we would look for council to consider a resolution approving that end grant agreement uh between the Met Council and the city of Newport knowing that we'll be able to have some uh we'll make some mod minor modifications to the draft agreement that's in your packet um prior to final execution. >> Okay. Any questions for our engineer on this? I'll move resolution number 2026-18 resolution approving an end grant agreement between the Metropolitan Council and the city of Newport. >> Thank you. >> I'll second. I >> have a motion from Council Member Sumar and a second from Council Member Ingamman. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, >> the resolution is adopted. >> And that's all I had, Mayor, and happy to stand for questions if there are any. Thank you. Um, any questions? Moving on to the Superintendent of Public Works report. >> Uh, good evening, Mayor Elliot and council members. I have nothing formal this evening. Uh, just a few updates. Uh, the ice rink is officially closed. Um, you know, had a great season, but uh, 40 degrees has been hard on it. So, uh, unless we get a crazy cold snap coming on, uh, which I'm hoping we don't, [laughter] we'll we'll have that closed up. So, uh, with the additional time that that frees up, we've been doing out doing some tree trimming. So, um, and just a thank you to the guys that came in last night, public works staff that plowed last night and then again at 4 this morning. Mhm. >> So, the storm wasn't quite what we had uh planned on, but I think we uh pivoted fairly well. So, we just appreciate the extra effort on their part. So, >> yeah, absolutely. I was glad when I got up this morning to see the roads plowed. [laughter] >> Yes. And the pile at the end of my driveway. >> Again, >> goes without saying. We all get one of those. Um any questions for Matt at all? Okay. Thank you. Well, next on our agenda is the administration report. >> Uh mayor, members of the council, nothing formal tonight, but uh happy to stand for questions. >> Any We've got a couple items on the workshop. So, yeah. All right. Well, moving on. I guess this isn't taking as long as I thought it was going to. Um it's [clears throat] a mayor and council rep uh report. So, I just wanted to let the council know and just also, you know, members of the public know I was able to meet with um our state senator Matt Klene about a week ago. And when I have these meetings prior to the legislative session, we talk about uh things that Newport is facing, um funding that we're going to be looking for, um concerns about any upcoming legislation that we've heard about. And so I always appreciate having some one-on-one time um with uh our state legislators to kind of tee up the session. And I do plan to meet with both of them in mid-Marchch as well once the session's a little further underway. So that's that's my report. Um council member Ingamman, >> I have nothing to report now. >> Council member Taylor, >> nothing to report. [snorts] >> Council [clears throat] member Schmidt, >> nothing formal. Council member Sumar, >> as always, our library and community center is offering many wonderful events for the public. So, check the check the calendar and come on down. And it's a chance for you to meet new members of the Newport family that you may have not had a chance to interact with yet. So, please take advantage of the wonderful activities that Sarah Marie puts together. >> Thank you. And uh with that I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move second. >> I have a motion from council member Ingamman and a second from council member Sumar. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you for watching.