News From
Newcastle City Hall
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Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for daily City of Newcastle updates!
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Get Involved:
2020 Budget
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As the process to review the 2020 budget begins next week, we encourage you to stay informed of the facts and get involved! The City Council will hold budget public hearings on Oct. 15 and Nov. 5. Staff will present the preliminary budget on Oct. 15, and from there, the Council will review, discuss and perfect it over the next month.
The City of Newcastle is committed to keeping residents informed. The webpage
newcastlewa.gov/budget2020
is your news source for all-things 2020 budget. Check back regularly for relevant meeting agendas, meeting audio, written recaps, news articles and other materials.
Recently, the City has received several questions and concerns about the subject of utility taxes. To learn more, click the button below for additional information.
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Save the Date!
Boocastle (5-7 p.m. Oct. 26)
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Put on your costume, grab a goodie sack and join us at Boocastle, the City of Newcastle’s inaugural community Halloween event on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 5-7 p.m. at Newcastle Fruit and Produce (13013 Newcastle Way).
Make your way through the “spooky” grounds of the Fruit and Produce stand for a fun night full of trick-or-treating, candy, snacks and hot drinks. Take your picture in the Halloween photo booth, meet a few villains (including one from a galaxy far, far away) and take home a souvenir from our balloon artist.
Dress for the weather, Boocastle goes on rain or shine. Some aspects of the event will be held outdoors, while others will be underneath the tent. Parking will be limited, so attendees are welcome to park at Newcastle City Hall (12835 Newcastle Way) and walk over to the event.
This FREE event is brought to you by the City of Newcastle, Newcastle Fruit & Produce, 4Culture and Newcastle Youth Community Engagement (NYCE).
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As of Friday, the City of Newcastle and Bellevue Fire continue to monitor a fire in the May Creek ravine near the 12200 block of Southeast 95th Way. In the most recent update, which we published on Oct. 1, Bellevue Fire officials said smoke could continue to be a nuisance as the fire is expected to smolder for several weeks. As noted in previous updates, Bellevue Fire has determined the best course of action is to let the fire burn itself out due to safety concerns and potential debris run-off.
The area near the fire remains unsafe due to landslide concerns, tree fall danger and air quality issues. For those reasons, pedestrians should prepare for a prolonged closure of the May Creek Trail. Fire officials recommended the Trail remain closed due to heightened concerns over carbon monoxide levels. Please avoid May Creek Trail until further notice. You can see a map of alternate trails on the Newcastle Trails website at
newcastletrails.org
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On Oct. 1, investigators ruled the fire accidental and determined that it started after decomposing organic material ignited in an area where landscaping debris and grass clippings were illegally dumped. Once the fire is out and the site is safe, the City will conduct a full investigation to establish who could be liable for the fire and associated firefighting costs.
The City of Newcastle will continue to post updates on our website as new information is available.
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Public Health Issues Fentanyl Warning
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Sadly, there has been a recent increase in overdose deaths in King County, driven largely by fentanyl found in illicit pills and powders. These deaths are occurring more frequently among people 18 or younger.
WARNING:
• Beware of counterfeit pills that may look like prescription drugs. They likely contain fentanyl.
• Do not consume any pill that you do not directly receive from a pharmacy or your prescriber.
• Pills purchased online are not safe.
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Newcastle Honored for 2019 Budget Presentation
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The Government Finance Officers Association has once again honored the Newcastle Finance Department with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. In order to receive the award, Newcastle had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The award, which honors the City's fiscal year 2019 budget, is considered the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting.
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City to Conduct Community Satisfaction Survey
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Newcastle will conduct a Community Satisfaction and Priorities Survey this October to find out more about how residents think the City is doing and where it should focus its efforts. The survey, administered by the nationally recognized ETC Institute, will provide City leaders with statistically valid data to use in making decisions.
The survey is not open to everyone, but only to a random sample of households. This helps ensure statistically valid results. ETC will mail the survey and a City-approved project description letter to selected households. ETC Institute consultants will monitor the distribution of the sample to ensure that it reasonably reflects the demographic composition of the City with regard to age, geographic dispersion, gender, race/ethnicity and other factors. Results will be presented to the City Council and available on the City's website in November.
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Rake a Drain and Help Prevent Flooding in Your Neighborhood
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Fall has officially arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and the wet season has returned with it. That means it’s time for Newcastle residents to begin monitoring their neighborhood storm drains. Properly functioning storm drains are essential to the safety of the Newcastle community. Storm drains capture stormwater runoff from paved (impervious) surfaces and pipe it to stormwater facilities before it is discharged to our creeks and Lake Boren.
Newcastle community members can help keep neighborhood storm drains clear by monitoring them for clogs from fallen leaves and needles. If your neighborhood storm drain is clogged with debris, use a rake or broom to clear debris and dispose of them in the garbage. Although leaves and needles typically go in the compost bin, debris from storm drains contains pollutants such as oil, gas, and sediment so it must go in the garbage.
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City Hall Election Drop Box Opens on Oct. 17
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King County Elections will mail the ballots for the Nov. 5 General Election on Oct. 16. In Newcastle, races for City Council positions, Coal Creek Utility District spots and more will appear on the ballot. Learn more about the candidates and ballot measures
here
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Citizens can choose to return their ballots at the Newcastle City Hall drop box, which will be open 24 hours a day beginning on Oct. 17 before closing at 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. If you choose to return your ballot by mail (no postage required), just make sure it's postmarked by Election Day.
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Thank You, Newcastle Volunteers!
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The City Council proclaimed Oct. 7, 2019, as Volunteer Appreciation Day in honor of all citizens who selflessly donate their time and energy to make our community a better place.
About 80 citizens who made a lasting impact through their volunteer work with the City of Newcastle were honored at a special celebration on that date. The appreciation event at Newport Hills’ Resonate Brewery and Pizzeria was a chance for the City to say thank you to our loyal volunteers. This tree (pictured here) represents how many years our volunteers have dedicated to the community.
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Get Involved!
City Seeking Youth Applicants for CAC
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The next meeting of Newcastle Youth Community Engagement is at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 @ the Newcastle Library. Teens are invited to come and make a difference in the community.
We're also seeking applicants for a high-school student to serve as a youth representative on the City's volunteer Community Activities Commission. Applications are due Oct. 18!
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Read about the latest police happenings in our Police Blotter. In this edition, Chief Houck asks you not to leave your car running in the driveway unattended.
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The City Council will hold a public hearing on the 2020 preliminary budget on Tuesday. Here's what's happening at the Oct. 15 Newcastle City Council meeting.
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Read our Council meeting recaps to stay informed about City news. In this edition, volunteer recognition, legislative priorities, affordable housing
and more.
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What role should arts and culture play in Newcastle? Join us and help develop a shared vision tomorrow at our public meeting (9-11 a.m. Oct. 12 @ Aegis Gardens - 13056 SE 76th St.). Light refreshments will be served.
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The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the YMCA to host a free informational seminar on Medicare enrollment. Come celebrate turning 65 and learn about enrolling in Medicare at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Coal Creek Family YMCA.
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Newcastle is one of the best places to raise a family in Washington State, according to a new report from the financial website WalletHub.
Analysts compared 114 cities based on key indicators of a suitable environment for raising children.
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On Sept. 28, a group of Scouts from Troop 689 completed an Eagle project at the Historic Newcastle Cemetery. They installed a new and improved railing and stained the kiosk. The Scouts also added a decorative border around the stone that honors the unmarked graves.
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The Newcastle email newsletter is published before every City Council meeting. Learn more about the newsletter, see an archive of past newsletters and sign up to receive it at
newcastlewa.gov/newsletters
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