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What's New in Newcastle
Spring is taking over, showing up as daffodils, tulips, and other flowers, and blooming trees along Newcastle's streets. The City's parks and trails also are greening up and becoming a haven on sunny days. Earth Day at Lake Boren Park is a great way to welcome in the spring season and get in touch with what you can do to take care of the planet. Find out more in this spring newsletter.
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| | Newcastle children celebrate Earth Day 2012. Photo courtesy of Grace Stiller. |
Newcastle's Earth Day Celebration
Think globally and act locally at this year's Earth Day Celebration at Lake Boren Park Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is designed to inspire people to get involved with local environmental stewardship projects and personal sustainable practices that benefit the local community and the planet. Newcastle Earth Day features green businesses and products, kids' activities, information from nonprofit environmental organizations, local music and wildlife displays. The event is made possible by Newcastle Weed Warriors, and King Conservation District in partnership with the city and other event sponsors. For a detailed schedule and more information, visit the Earth Day 2015 website. |
Council Considers a Limit to Residential Density in the City's Business Center
Responding to neighbors' concerns about a proposed mixed use building, the City Council is considering establishment of a limit to residential density in the downtown area. Currently the number of units is limited by parking requirements and floor area ratios. Councilmembers will review an ordinance at a meeting Tuesday, April 21, starting at 7 p.m., establishing a limit of 48 dwelling units per acre in the Community Business, Residential-18 and Office zoning districts within the Community Business Center overlay. The limit would not affect mixed use development applications currently in process, such as the Newcastle Way Apartments or The Atlas. The public may comment on the proposed ordinance at the meeting April 21, or by sending an email to the City Council.
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Volunteer to Serve on the Community Activities Commission
We need a new volunteer for the Community Activities Commission! The City is looking for residents who are enthusiastic about creating experiences and park spaces that enhance the qualit  y of life for the community. Commissioners are an important part of making Newcastle unique due to their involvement in events such as Concerts in the Park and Newcastle Days, and in improving city parks, trails and recreational programs, as well as introducing new historic and artistic initiatives. The commission meets on the second Wednesday of the month at City Hall starting at 7 p.m. Commissioners volunteer some additional time to work on projects. You must be at least 18 years old and reside within the city. If you're interested, email a letter of interest, resume and application form to saram@ci.newcastle.wa.us by 5 p.m. Friday, April 17. |
Pet License Canvassing Reminds You to License Your Pets
Working in collaboration with the City of Newcastle, one Regional Animal Services of King County canvasser is going from door-to door to help ensure  compliance with the city's requirements that all cats and dogs 8 weeks and older be licensed. Canvassers can issue temporary licenses to unlicensed pets, which allow 30 days for the purchase of permanent tags. Canvassers carry no money and will not ask you for payment. They are easily recognized by King County name badges, logo shirts, business cards and pet licensing documents, and are trained and experienced in following strict guidelines regarding professional conduct. They do not enter homes and will avoid houses clearly posted as "No Trespassing" and "No Soliciting." Pet licenses are available at Newcastle City Hall, the Newcastle QFC, or online at www.kingcounty.gov/RASKC. |
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City Council Adopts Strategic Direction
Your City Councilmembers have adopted goals and strategic priorities to assist in guiding the efforts of Newcastle's officials and staff. The document is based on what the City Council views as important and establishes an overarching direction for the city. Whenever tough decisions come up, this plan will be used to keep the big picture in mind. Within the plan, you'll find goals concerning the city's finances, public safety, community engagement and economic development. View the entire document here. Councilmembers developed a draft plan following a retreat held in February. Further refinements were made in March, prior to the plan's final adoption April 7. The plan can be modified at any time in response to a changing environment. If you have any questions or would like to share your opinion concerning the plan or any other topic, you can send an email addressed to the City Council. The Council wants to hear from you!
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Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA
Summer is the time for kids to get up, get out and grow! Start out your child's active summer with a free community event at the Coal Creek YMCA open to all kids and families, and filled with fun, active play and educational opportunities Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Healthy Kids Day is a YMCA national initiative to improve the health and well-being of kids. For more information on this event, visit the YMCA Healthy Kids Day webpage, or call 425-282-1500 for details about the local event. The Coal Creek Family YMCA is located at 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road. |
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New Youth Community Engagement Board Gives a Voice to Youth
Middle school and high school students can become engaged in the community, voice their needs to the city and make a difference through a new teen leadership board called Newcastle Youth for Community Engagement, or NYCE for short. By participating in the board, students will also learn about citizen involvement and how to identify and solve community problems. The focus is on the following areas of interest: youth voice, community service, creating, implementing and supporting programs/events that interest teens, attending and participating in meetings and building leadership skills. NYCE is open to all youth in grades 6-12 with a vested interest in the Newcastle community. Meetings occur on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with the location alternating between the library, YMCA and City Hall. For more information or to get involved, contact Wendy Kirchner, Community Activities Liaison, wendyk@ci.newcastle.wa.us. |
| Spring Document Shred-A-Thon
Time to haul out all of those documents with personal information on them you have been saving up for the annual Shred-A-Thon sponsored by Homestreet Bank and the City of Newcastle. You don't have to make an appointment, just drive up to Homestreet Bank at 6949 Coal Creek Parkway SE in Newcastle with your files on Saturday, May 9, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the documents will be shredded on the spot. Be sure to remove any binder clips or large paper clips. Shredding will be done by certified professionals at ADG Shredding in the Homestreet parking lot. This event is free and helps protect you from identity theft.
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 Stay Informed About Emergencies with RPIN AlertsKing County's enhanced Regional Public Information and Notification emergency alert system, or RPIN, helps you stay informed about potential hazards and threats that impact your area. Upgraded features include voice messages to landline phones, added geographical features for areas of King County, and targeted types of alerts (such as safety information and/or emergency notifications). Register your email address and/or phone device(s) to receive important safety information during an emergency. You choose the type of notifications you receive and which contact methods are used. Sign-up is free and you can update your profile at any time. Sign up today at the RPIN website. Check out www.Smart911.com and www.TrackMole.com for additional tools to protect you and your belongings. |
Annual Police Service Highlights and Data
Newcastle Police have released a report detailing police service and crime activity in the city during 2014 to keep you informed. Read the full report here. The Police Services Highlights section gives a narrative of police efforts and year-to-year comparisons of selected crime and police service data. The report is produced by the City's police department in partnership with the King County Sheriff's Office Research, Planning and Informational Services and Contracts units. If you have any questions, contact Police Chief Melinda Irvine by sending her an email. |
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King County Elections Hosting 2015 Candidate Workshops
This year four Newcastle City Council positions will be put to city voters. King County Elections is hosting two complimentary 2-hour workshops to discuss important information related to filing for office in King County. Members of the public are invited to attend. The workshop covers the following topics:
- Filing for office in King County
- Submitting your local voters' pamphlet information
- Voter lists and data management
- Campaign sign regulations
- Basic public disclosure information
Workshops will be held Friday, April 24, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to noon, at King County Elections, 919 SW Grady Way, Renton WA 98057. If you plan to attend you must RSVP via email to election.operations@kingcounty.gov. The workshop will be cancelled if enrollment is low. For more information, visit the King County Elections website.
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Newcastle 2035 Process Moving Forward
What will the City of Newcastle look like 20 years from now? Your City Council is working on updating a document establishing and guiding a far-reaching vision for the city's growth and development. All public or private development projects and city regulations must be in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Be a part of this important effort by reviewing the proposed Comprehensive Plan, providing written input by emailing the City Clerk, or by attending upcoming City Council meetings to provide comment. City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month starting at 7 p.m. at Newcastle City Hall. |
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City Staff Want to Bring City Hall to You
Are you interested in meeting your neighbors, making your area safer and learning about City services? We all want to live in a safe, connected community, and city staff is looking for opportunities to share information about City services and neighborhood safety, and to discuss issues of concern with you. We encourage you to contact us if you would like to invite City staff and/or officials to your meetings and events happening in Newcastle.
- Tell us what's going on in your neighborhood, what your concerns are and what your ideas for solutions are.
- Learn about available City services, programs and volunteer opportunities.
Please contact Community Activities Liaison Wendy Kirchner at WendyK@ci.newcastle.wa.us or (425) 649-4444, ext. 142 for more information or to schedule a visit.
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Environmental Review of Energize Eastside Project to Begin
A Puget Sound Energy project to build a new electric substation and transmission lines called Energize Eastside is moving into the environmental review stage. During this stage, affected cities, including Newcastle, will identify and evaluate the potential adverse environmental impacts of the proposed project and issue an Environmental Impact Statement or EIS. The draft EIS will be available for public review and comment, and comments will be included in the final EIS. This document then informs the decisions of agencies involved. Visit a new website for the EIS process for more information, and learn more about this project at the Energize Eastside website. |
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Final 2015 Budget Publication Available
Newcastle's Finance Director has released the final version of the city's 2015 budget book. The budget is more than a report of the city's planned revenue and expenditures. It's packed full of information about the city, including information on city services and demographics, how your city staff is organized, and planned improvement projects. One of the best ways to get to know your City of Newcastle organization is to read this comprehensive document. Download the budget book here, and to view budgets from previous years go to this city webpage. |
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Preview of Summer Events at Beautiful Lake Boren Park
Fourth at the Lake Celebration
July 4, 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Food, fun, music by Cherry Cherry and fabulous fireworks.
Concerts in the Park
July 22 and 29, August 5 and 12, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Family friendly concert series with a variety of music for all.
Newcastle Days
September 11, evening, September 12, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Kicks off Friday evening with a special family event. Saturday features favorite activities, entertainment, food, and the car show.
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Upcoming Events
Newcastle Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 18
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lake Boren Park
Healthy Kids Day
Saturday, April 25
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Coal Creek YMCA
Document Shred-A-Thon
Saturday, May 9
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Newcastle HomeStreet Bank
Candidate Workshops
Friday, April 24
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 25
10 a.m. to noon
King County Elections
919 SW Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
RSVP required
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City Meetings
City Council
April 21, May 5, May 19, June 2, June 16, July 7 and July 21
at City Hall
Begin at 7 p.m.
Planning Commission
April 15, May 20, June 17 and July 15
at City Hall
Begin at 7 p.m.
Community Activities Commission
April 8, May 13, June 10 and July 8
at City Hall
Begin at 7 p.m.
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City Staff Directors
City Manager
Rob Wyman
Finance Director
Christine Olson
Public Works Director
Jeff Brauns
Community Development Director
Tim McHarg
Police Chief
Melinda Irvine
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City of Newcastle
12835 Newcastle Way,
Suite 200
Newcastle, WA 98056
425-649-4444
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