Oct. 12, 2018
Thank You Newcastle Volunteers!
About 75 citizens who made a lasting impact through their volunteer work with the City of Newcastle were honored at a special celebration on Oct. 1.

Every single person who volunteered a minute of his or her time to Newcastle played a significant role in providing a richer quality of life for the entire community. We can't thank you enough for your contributions!
Community News
Newcastle Makes List of Washington's Safest Cities
The website safewise.com recently released its list of the state’s 20 safest cities of 2018, and Newcastle comes in at No. 4 !

Safewise reviewed FBI crime report statistics and population data to create the list. The evaluation is based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery) in each city. Snoqualmie tops the list at No. 1, followed by Mercer Island and then Sammamish.

Make sure you're following the Newcastle Police Department on Twitter ( twitter.com/pdnewcastle ) and Facebook ( fb.com/newcastlewapd ) for regular updates and crime prevention tips!
Keep Your Storm Drain Clear of Debris
You can help prevent local flooding by clearing leaves and debris from storm drains!

Did you know that debris from storm drains should go into the garbage, not the compost bin? It's because the debris surrounding storm drains contains pollutants such as oil, gas and sediment.

Newcastle Surface Water Specialist Kim Jones talks about the importance of raking your drain in this edition of the Newcastle Knows Clean Water series.

City Seeking Applicants for the Community Activities Commission
We are looking for residents who are enthusiastic about creating experiences and park spaces that enhance the quality of life for people living in Newcastle!

There are currently two vacancies on the city's all-volunteer Community Activities Commission. The application deadline is Oct. 31. Applicants must be at least 18 and live in the city.

Newcastle Police Arrest Prolific Burglar
The Newcastle Police Department worked with our King County Sheriff’s Office partners to arrest a prolific burglar just hours after he committed crimes in and around Newcastle on Oct. 1!

The suspect is a 37-year-old Renton man with six felony convictions and nine misdemeanor convictions on his record. He was booked into King County Jail for two counts of burglary, two counts of identity theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, and VUCSA (drugs). He is also a suspect in burglaries in the Covington and Maple Valley areas.

Road Alert: 136th Avenue Southeast
Drivers should prepare for impacts on and around 136th Avenue Southeast as the road is closed for a townhome project.

The closure started on Oct. 8 and will last into November. The 136th Avenue Southeast corridor is closed from north of the Newcastle Elementary School driveway to 144th Place Southeast. Residents in the area have local access to their homes. Additionally, the gate at Southeast 87th Place and 144th Place Southeast is open to ensure access for local homeowners. The closure is expected to occur only during daytime hours (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and the roadway will reopen during the evening.

You're Invited: Coffee With a Cop
Have you ever wondered who it is that is policing your city? Have you ever wanted to ask the police what they do, or why they do or don’t do certain things? Do you have a concern you would like to share with the police in a face-to-face setting? Well, Oct. 15 is your chance to do just that!

The Newcastle Police Department is hosting its first ever Coffee with a Cop event in the Council Chambers at Newcastle City Hall (12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200) from 2:30-4 p.m. Police Chief Jason Houck will be there to answer your questions, listen to your concerns or anything else you’d like to talk about! See you there!
Key Dates: Council Budget Calendar
Following an initial City Council budget retreat held in August, the city's budget process continues at the Oct. 16 meeting, when city staff will officially present the 2019 Preliminary Operating and Capital Budget. From there, the council will review, discuss and perfect the budget over the next month. Citizens are encouraged to participate in the budget process and offer comments and suggestions at any of the three scheduled public hearings.

Oct. 16
— City staff distributes the official 2019 Preliminary Operating and Capital Budget
— First public hearing  on the 2019 preliminary budget

Oct. 19
— The Newcastle City Council will hold a budget workshop from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday at City Hall. It will give councilmembers a chance to take a thorough look at the overall budget and ask any questions. The workshop is open to the public, but a comment period is not available.

Nov. 6
— Second public hearing  on 2019 revenue sources and property tax levy discussion
— Third public hearing  on the 2019 budget

Nov. 20
— Final ordinance adopting budget
The Newcastle Police Blotter features selected crime reports and traffic citation statistics from across the city. It is released in this email newsletter, published a few days before every regular City Council meeting.

The Newcastle City Council will meet with the Issaquah School District, review the budget and more at its Oct. 16 meeting. Learn more about the agenda here .

Can't make it to a meeting? You can read all council recaps at newcastlewa.gov/councilrecaps .
The community is invited to explore the Newcastle Way fire station during the Bellevue Fire Department's Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13. Attendees will have the chance to take pictures, tour the fire station, try on real firefighter bunker gear, discharge a fire extinguisher and ask questions of firefighters.
The Washington State Department of Transportation hosted a community meeting in Newcastle about the upcoming  I-405 Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project . The construction phase will begin in 2019 and the project is expected to open to traffic in 2024. View the meeting handouts and a copy of the presentation here .
Ballots for the Nov. 6 election will be mailed on Oct. 17 and the Newcastle City Hall drop box will open on Oct. 18. Residents can choose to mail their ballot (no postage necessary) or deposit the ballot in a drop box (which remains open 24 hours a day before closing at 8 p.m. on Election Day).
Join the Y to celebrate fall, family and community! The Coal Creek Family YMCA is hosting its annual Fall Festival from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 20. Take part in the pumpkin derby, spooky maze, mini golf course and archery stations. Enjoy seasonal crafts and treats. All are welcome. Costumes are encouraged!
Photo of the Week
"Crews are working to add green bike lanes to the intersection of Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way. The green pavement offers better visibility and raises the profile of the bike lane. Thanks for your patience as traffic is directed through the area."
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Helpful Links
City of Newcastle |  newcastlewa.gov  

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 .