Newcastle Voice

City Budget 101

2008-11-02T09:25:00.001-08:00

So I have been approached by a few of my neighbors asking why we would be considering making certain capital investments when we are discussing a lean budget this year. Most commonly, people have asked why we would consider spending money on new parks or city signs when we are at the same time talking about making cuts to the services we provide in the city.

The simplest way to describe this is that the city has several different bank accounts (they really aren't separate, we call them funds, but for the sake of simplifying what's happening lets pretend they are actually different bank accounts). The two largest accounts we have are just like your checking and savings account.

One (the General Fund) is used like a checking account and pays for the operations of the city. Expenses from this fund include Police, Fire, Employee Salaries, citywide maintenance of roads and parks, and just about any other operational expense you can think of. The city collects 3 types of revenue for this fund, property tax, sales tax, and developement related fees. As you can imagine the first two revenues don't change dramatically from year to year, but the third is connected to development in the city. And as we have seen this year, development can be subject to huge changes in the economic markets. This is what is straining the city this year. In 2006 we had 125 building permits issued. We conservately planned for less than half of that for the 2008 budget year. Yet I don't think anyone could have forseen the depth of the current townturn. To date this year we have only issued 13 building permits, a far cry from the projections we made and a staggering 10% of what we had issued 2 years ago.

Secondly we have a Capital Budget. This is like your savings account and is used for expenses related to capital items like, roads, buildings, parks (development not maitenance). This account is relatively stable and has plenty of cash currently. In fact some of this money is required to be spent within 7 years of collection. So you will continue to see us make capital investments in the comunity when it makes sense.

As the council is preparing the 2009 budget we will be looking at a series of recommendations by the city manager to balance our budget. But your feedback is important to us in determining what the operational priorities are for the city. But keep in mind the two funds and how the money is collected and how it can be spent. The capital money we use to buy a park or install signage can't be used to pay for police.

City Projects Updates

2008-11-02T08:25:00.001-08:00

Coal Creek Parkway
If you have driven the parkway recently you will have seen some great progress. We are still looking at completion early this summer. And OH! We are still running under budget at more than 60% completion.

YMCA
If you have driven down Golf Club Road you may have seen the YMCA construction site. Groundbreaking for the facility was this summer and construction is going well. The Y plans to open on-time next Fall.

Library
The city has been waiting for the Library to submit it's final building permit information. Our last conversations with the developer and KCLS indicate they expect to begin construction sometime after the beginning of the year.

May Creek Entrance Parcel
The council held an executive session several weeks ago giving the city manager direction for his negotiations with the property owner. These negotiations are ongoing. The council will meet again on the 5th to discuss the issue in Executive Session.

Town Hall Meeting - Oct. 28th

2008-09-10T17:05:00.001-07:00

It has been awhile, but for anyone still following this site. Please mark your calendars for October 28th at 7pm for a Town Hall Meeting of the City Council at Newcastle Elementary. Topics will include emergency preparedness and City financial status and potential revenue sources. More deatils to come....

Summer Hiatus!

2008-09-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry folks for the extended summer hiatus with providing information here. Much has been happeneing in the city and I hope to bring you up to speed.

In the next few weeks I will be writing about the following:

Coal Creek Parkway Update
Library Update
YMCA Update
City Financial Status Update
May Creek Entrance Parcel Update
Transit Center Update

Please email if you have something else you would like me to cover in the near term.

-dan

Council Road Show

2008-04-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

The city council will be holding the first of what will hopefully be a regular "road show" event. On April 29th we will be meeting at Hazelwood Elementary School at 7pm it what will be a Town Hall format meeting. The meeting will begin with a presentation from the chief of police about our police services and then a presentation of some of the other current city projects in the works. Following the presentations will be open QA and social time.

I hope to see you there.

The Rumor Mill

2007-12-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

Many of you read the news last week that our State Representative for the 41st district, Fred Jarrett, will be seeking the office of State Senate (currently held by Brian Weinstien). And in a dramatic move will also be switching political parties. Read more in the Seattle Times. But one outfall of this is that the rumor mill has begun in full force about who would run for the position that Fred is leaving vacant.
I have heard from more than one person that my name has been circulating the rumor mill (amongst many others) as a person possibly interested in pursuing the office. I will state here clearly that I DO NOT have any ambition to pursue any position outside of the Newcastle City Council for the foreseeable future. My current work and family commitments would make it almost impossible to consider a position such as this. I am flattered that people would even bring up my name in reference to such a position but it just isn't in the cards!

Windtree Park Groundbreaking

2007-12-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned, but it looks like there will be a Windtree Park groundbreaking ceremony sometime in January. Details to come.

Public Transit and the Fallout of Prop 1

2007-12-19T11:34:00.000-08:00

I began this post shortly after the election but just now have found the time to complete it.
-----

I have mixed emotions about the failure of Prop1 the "Roads and Transit" measure. On many accounts it was not a perfect solution for the region. But on the other hand, inaction in this case I believe is an even more imperfect solution.

My support for Prop 1 materialized in September when something happened at, of all places, the Microsoft company meeting. It was at that meeting where my employer announced that the company was going to begin providing bus service from several areas around Puget Sound for employees. Now this in itself isn't that earth shattering, but what struck me was the reaction from the crowd. We had been sitting in Safeco Field for the better part of a day, listening to speeches, watching demos, and participating as normal in the "pep-rally" that makes up the company meeting. Nothing in my 7 years of attending company meetings has ever garnered the reaction that this announcement did. Cheers, applause, excitement, they could all hardly be contained. And this reaction came from a group of people that are tasked with solving problems that will literally change the world, yet buses provided by the company quickly became the "talk" around campus. I found this reaction to be fascinating and started me thinking and asking around about why the reaction was so dramatic and positive, even from people who wouldn't even be using the service.

I will summarize my analysis as the fact that most folks here at the company want something done and have the realization that no solution will ever be perfect (perhaps this is a problem with the mindset of us Microsoft folks when discussing our products, but that is another story). And ironically (to me at least), it illustrated a lack of faith and trust in the government establishment to be effective in its ability to deliver. (Ironic in the sense that people would trust Microsoft, the software company, to provide a higher quality transport system than the local government) Possibly this is an indication that we should at least consider some sort of privatized system.

Ultimately all of this led me to believe that Prop 1 was necessary for the region. And for all of it's faults, at least it was a plan to DO something. But now that the fate of the measure has been determined, we need to look at the next opportunity to solve our regions problems. And I will save that discussion for another time.

Public Hearing on Coal Creek Pkwy Closure in Renton

2007-11-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

The City of Renton will be holding a public hearing on December 3rd, 2007, at 7:00 pm, to discuss closure of Duvall Ave. NE/ Coal Creek Parkway SE, from NE Sunset Blvd. to SE 95th Way, for a 13-month period beginning in February 2008. The proposed closure is not within the City of Newcastle, however the meeting is open to the general public. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing and present written or oral comments regarding the proposal.

Public Hearing Location
Renton City Hall
1055 S. Grady Way
Renton, WA 98055

For more information about the hearing contact the City of Renton at 425-430-6510.

Welcome New Councilmembers

2007-11-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

It looks at this point to be concluded that your City Council will be staffed by the following people this January:

Ben Varon
Jean Garber
Dan Hubbell
Lisa Jensen
Carol Simpson
Steve Buri
Sonny Putter

First I would like to extend thanks to all of the candidates who ran for office this year as I have an appreciation for the time and dedication it takes to run a campaign. And second, a word of congratulations and welcome to our newest members. Lisa, Carol and Steve may be new to the position but are all involved and knowledgeable of local issues and should be able to quickly fit into their new roles.

I would also like to note that I think it speaks volumes about our community to have such a diverse and young council. I find it very impressive that we will have three women seated on our council of seven.

And lastly I would personally like to thank Pam Lee and John Dulcich who will be leaving their seats in December. Both Pam and John have been members of the Newcastle City Council since the city was incorporated and have spent a good amount of their personal time serving the members of this community. It has been an honor to serve with both of them in my short tenure. John is the person who gave me the opportunity to serve on the planning commission years ago when I first expressed interest. Without his support and mentor ship I would not be involved in the way I am today. And for that I am thankful.

Looking Beyond "Want"

2007-11-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

In business we typically don't ask customers what they want, rather we ask them what problems they have and as business leaders we try to find or create a product(s) that meets that need. As an example, if you asked a group of consumers in the 90's about what kind of portable electronic device they "wanted" the answer would have been a CD player that didn't skip. Focus group after focus group proved consumers wanted CD players as their preferred media device. But the real answer was in the fact that they actually wanted something that didn't skip, but most consumers couldn't look past the form factor of the CD so that is what they asked for. Then, Apple introduced the iPod. Consumers hadn't asked for an iPod but all of a sudden a new product solved the issues they had with the old technology. If Apple had really listened to the consumer they would not have been an innovator, and arguably would have never solved the problem consumers really had.

So how does this philosophy relate to being a council member. The answer is simply that I must look at my job as a councilman in a similar way. It is my job to listen beyond the specifics of what residents ask for and to actually figure out what problems they need solved. Presumably I was elected by you because you had faith in my ability to do this. For example, the city is commonly asked to install speed bumps on local streets. But really what is being asked is for the city to slow down traffic. Speed bumps happen to be one way to solve this problem but there are many other more effective solutions that most folks don't even know of. And arguably the most effective and innovative of those ideas probably hasn't even been thought of. Leadership is about finding opportunity (eg. problems) and determining the best course of action to solve those problems. Sometimes this approach requires change, uncertainty, and risk. These of course are all things we as a society are generally trained to be averse to.

Newcastle Library Concept

2007-11-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

This is the most recent conceptual drawing of the Newcastle Library. I am told that this represents appox. 90% design, so while some minor changes may happen, this is a fairly close appoximation to what the actually library will look like. The viewpoint is from the opposite sidewalk near the entrance to Apple Physical Therapy.

Windtree Park November Update

2007-11-04T14:13:00.001-08:00

Advertisement for Windtree Park construction has been published. Contractor bids are due on Nov. 23rd I believe. After which the council will decide how to proceede, presumably in December.

Coal Creek Parkway Traffic Info

2007-10-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you have noticed that construction is in full swing for both phases of Coal Creek Parkway widening. For daily project status and traffic delay information please visit http://www.coalcreekparkway.com/.

Newcastle Library Update

2007-09-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

According to the KCLS website (click the meeting agenda for Sept. 25) the board is being presented with a proposal and recommendation from the KC Library staff. The recommendation is as follows:

Based on the current plans and cost projections, it is recommended that KCLS partner with Lorig Associates to develop and build a mixed-use structure that includes the new Newcastle Library. The quality of the development and the ability to deliver a library of the size and quality KCLS’ intended sets a positive tone for the successful completion of a community-oriented building. Mithun’s preliminary plans show a civic presence for the library that sets it apart from the apartments; ensuring that the community of users will feel welcome in this building as a gathering place

This is great news for Newcastle and the Library. The board is expected to make a decision on which plan to more forward with at tomorrows board meeting. Please send your comments to the library board through their website. Or better, you can attend tomorrows meeting at 5pm in the Library Administration Building on Newport Way in Issaquah to voice your opinion (and hopefully support) on this project to move forward.

You can view the full report and recommendation here. It is a very large PDF file that can be downloaded.

Thoughts on Public Involvement

2007-09-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

At last nights candidate forum a recurring theme centered around public involvement in city business. Several candidates have taken the position that the city council has been lax in encouraging public involvement. On the surface I might find it easy to agree with their position since most city council meetings are only attended by a group of 5-10 regulars. These regulars are occasionally referred to as "season ticket holders", because much like like dedicated sports fans, they are very vocal about who or what they are rooting for and don't like to miss an inning. And just like die-hard football fans, the season ticket holders don't understand why you don't want to come watch the game. But ahh, they are missing one key thing. I believe you are watching the game, and just like with football, it's usually better viewed from the comfort of your own home.

I am continually impressed with my interactions with residents, whether at the store, the park, or on a walk with my kids. Not surprisingly most people I talk to rarely, if ever, attend council meetings. Yet most folks always seem to be generally informed about what is happening around city hall. If the public were truly disengaged or if the city were completely dropping the ball this wouldn't be the case. The networks most people have for information gathering are as diverse and complex as the city itself. The newspaper, email, the internet and neighbors talking to neighbors are all very common and effective ways information travels through the population.

It is through these channels that occasionally an issue circulates resulting in a meeting with phenomenal turnout, sometimes with 50-100 people crammed into city hall. The city advertises these meetings no differently than the ones with only the season ticket holders in the audience. So if the level information provided by the city is the same what causes such a large turnout. I believe it is because most people, while generally informed about the issues, need to have an understanding of how an issue relates to them before they feel empowered to voice an opinion. For example, when i was on the planning commission we were considering changes to the city parking ordinance. We had more than 100 people show up to a meeting to give their opinion on the issue. Not because we communicated the issue any differently to the public but because most people can relate to their cars and understand how changes to those rules might impact their daily lives.

In conclusion, public involvement at times can seem bleak, especially if you are one of 5 same people at every council meeting. It is a good part of why I have chosen to keep up this website. It is my effort to find a way of making more than just parking relateable to the general population.

Windtree Park Update

2007-09-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

The path to begin Windtree Park is still ahead of us. I, as many of you have, were expecting to see some progress this summer. The current status is that the city staff is prepared to put the project to bid after delays this summer due to our public works department being focused on preparing for work on Coal Creek Parkway.

But at Tuesday Sept 18th's council meeting, Councilman Bill Erxleben raised 2 issues regarding the park. First he expressed concern that the money approved for the park in 2006 was not properly accounted for in the 2007 budget. This is mostly an issue of procedure and the city staff is tracking the paper trail. This unfortunately will delay the project for a few more weeks until the procedural matter can be resolved.

Secondly, and more concerning, is that Mr. Erxleben advocated removing money from the park project and questioned the expense as extravagant. Additionally he called into question the public process leading up to the decision to move forward with the park. I personally take exception to his diatribe as I personally witnessed a very active public process. These are my neighbors he is talking about and for him to claim that all of the hard work and involvement by the more than 30 residents of Windtree was insufficient is frankly a slap in the face. Possibly he should have attended more meetings himself ? Members of the Parks commission have commented to me that the involvement in the Windtree Park process should be a model for community input in the future.

I encourage everyone interested in seeing Windtree Park completed to attend the Oct 2nd Council Meeting to express your displeasure with the current delays.

I would also like to point out that I attended the City Council candidate forum this evening. It should be noted that council candidate Russ Segner publicly advocated removing funding from Windtree Park and to use the money instead for changes to the intersection where the Valley Medical Center is currently located.

Parkway construction to begin this fall

2007-08-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

First, my apologies for not posting in the last few weeks. The family and I were on a much needed summer vacation.

Shortly after my return this last Tuesday the city council approved in a 6-1 vote to proceed with Coal Creek Parkway Phase 2 and has awarded the construction contract! That means that we have approved both phases 2 and 3 and construction will begin shortly on the roadway. Current estimates are that the construction should last around 22 months. So if we can break ground in September we will hopefully see a completed road by mid-summer of 2009.

Current financial status. - In the past few weeks we have been awarded some additional funding as well as identified a few possible other future grants.

The TIB (Transportation Improvement Board) voted and approved an additional 2 million dollars for the project.
The TIB director also has the authority to grant an additional 1.5 million at the end of the project if needed.
Senator Patty Murray has included a $1 million line item in the federal budget that is expected to be passed in September.
The King County Council looks to be including $1 million in the upcoming county budget this November.

In addition to the grants above, the city has been identified to receive a public works trust fund loan of $5 million. This loan is at an interest rate of 0.5% (that is one half of one percent!) In the case that we need to borrow money we really can't beat this rate. It would mean payments of approx. $55 thousand a year per million borrowed for 20 years.

Good news for Coal Creek Parkway!

2007-07-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

This was a very exciting week for Coal Creek Parkway.

First - In a 7-0 vote on Tuesday evening, the city council awarded the contract to CA Carey for construction of Phase 3 of CCP. In all likelihood you will begin to see work on the May Creek Bridge before the end of the year. Many thanks to all of the people who worked to make this project a reality over the past 10 years or more.

Second -The Mayor and City Manger made a presentation to the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) on Thursday in a request for additional funding for Coal Creek Parkway. During the TIB board meeting on Friday the board voted to award an additional $2 million to the project. Making the total in secured funds for the project $35 million (of which the city's contribution is $3 million). There is still additional funding needed but with this vote of support from TIB (the largest financial contributor) we stand a very good chance of securing additional funds from our other partners.

Lastly - I also wanted to respond to comments that were left regarding my last post. Hopefully more of you who read will feel welcome to contribute thoughts.

An anonymous commenter made the following remark:

The fourth option is that we do nothing until and unless the state and county step up to pay an appropriate share of the total cost. Non-Newcastle vehicles account for 90% of the traffic. The amounts under discussion are well within the budgets of larger entities. We few Newcastle residents should not be picking up so much of the tab for what is actually a regional thoroughfare.

I appreciate the thinking that we find a fourth alternative, but this comment just doesn't make sense. First the state and county have indeed been stepping up on this project. For phases 2 and 3 the city currently has only committed $3 million which amounts to less than 10% of the total project cost of $44 million (accounting for contingency). If the city were to contribute a 15% share the total would be $6 million (that's twice what we have already have invested). If necessary, I don't think a contribution of 15% in a project of this nature is out of line. Especially if you consider the soft costs we all experience in livability when traffic is backed up (irregardless of where those cars are going). Additionally, there is no "just wait" in the political game. The state, county, feds, and TIB have all said they want the project completed. We will always be chasing inflation if we play the waiting game, and its a game we will never win.

Send me your thoughts.

Running the Numbers

2007-07-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the entire council spent a little more than a day at the Westin in Bellevue for our annual planning retreat. As would be expected a good portion of our meeting was regarding Coal Creek Parkway (CCP). A few things came to light during our conversation that I want to share.

In my last post I wrote that I felt that options 2 and 3 for CCP reduced the financial risk to the city. After running the numbers during our weekend meeting I actually don't believe that to be true. Lets explore:

Option 1 - Complete both phases.

The city has currently committed $3 Million in Cash
We continue to solicit money from the State and Feds to cover the remaining $11 million
Best case we only put in the $3 mil - worst case we must borrow an additional $8 Million
But the road is complete

Option 2- Complete only Phase 3

The city has currently committed $3 Million in Cash
The City must reimburse the state (TIB) for the property and engineering costs for phase 2 ($6 Million)
Because the road is not widened we would need to do about $2-3 million in improvements to the existing 2 lane road (repave, signal at 89th)
In this case the city would be out $3 mil cash + need to borrow at least another $5 million
And only the bridge is complete

Option 3 - Do nothing

The city must reimburse TIB nearly $6 million for property and 3 mil for engineering
Because the road is not widened we would need to do about $2-3 million in improvements to the existing 2 lane road (repave, signal at 89th)
So end result would be the City paying $3 million in cash and needing to finance $8-9 million
And in this option we would have no new road or bridge

In all three options the city has some level of financial obligation and in fact the one that has the apparent least amount of risk is option 1. This is because by continuing with the project it enables the city to continue to seek additional funding from outside sources like the State. The moment we say that we are not going to complete the project we not only give up our ability to ask for more money, we would also have to repay the money we have already been given.

I should also mention that according to a preliminary and conservative estimate of the financials, it appears the city could afford an $8 million line of credit. I would mean possibly restructuring some of our capital priorities but it is within the reasonable financial health of the city to take on that amount of debt if necessary.

Coal Creek Parkway Update

2007-07-13T12:51:00.001-07:00

I need your feedback! The council, and in turn you, is faced with making the final decision on whether or not to continue with the construction of Coal Creek Parkway.

Let me briefly summarize the current state of the project:
Final construction bids were presented to the city last week. So counting construction cost, property acquisition, and project management, the current cost of the project (with a 10% addition for contingency) is roughly $44 million. Currently the city has secured funding in the amount of $33 million, of which $3 million is directly contributed from the city of Newcastle and the remainder is a mixture of funding from the state, federal government and county. So on the surface this looks like we are about $11 million short of the needs for the project. However several other funding sources totalling roughly $6 million have been identified and are being pursued but are not guaranteed. Included on that list is additional monies from the state, feds and the city itself, as well as approx $1 Million in possible project savings by cutting back on some areas on the project.

Here is a simpler chart of the figures:
$44 M - Project Cost
$33 M - Secured Funding
$6 M - Potential Funding
$5 M - Unfunded Balance

Options for Proceeding
The City required to act on the construction bids within 45 days of their having been opened. Therefore the City Council is facing several important decisions within the next few weeks. There are several options, and I am asking your input in helping to make the correct decision for this city long term.

1. Undertake Both Phases Now, Continue to Seek Additional Funding
If one assumes that infrastructure projects are not likely to become less expensive in the near term, the City could choose to begin both phases of the project now and simultaneously continue to seek additional funding.

The upside to beginning both phases now is that we would begin completion of a 13-year goal, we would protect our federal money by meeting our obligation deadlines, we would be on a similar time frame as is projected for the Renton and King County phases of the project, and we would be demonstrating a commitment to our funding partners by initiating the project we have been working to fund for so long.

Downside risks are, the Council would need to commit to debt financing the unfunded, but known, amount. We would continue to seek increased funding from our partners but if we were unsuccessful in gaining any additional funding, the City would be obligated to self-fund the balance.

2. Undertake Only Phase III (the bridge), Wait on Phase II
This option may lessen the city's risk in the near-term, but increases the risk in the long-term for phase II.

The upside to this option is that it allows us to proceed on the bridge (phase III) knowing that we have sufficient funds to complete it. It also allows us to begin spending our federal funds this year within the deadlines set on those funds. It would also be on a similar time frame as is projected for the Renton and King County phases of the project. And with the a signal at May Valley Road, would improve traffic flow at that intersection.

However the city could risk the funding agreements we have with the TIB (Transportation Improvement Board) and the State. TIB has been interested in providing funding to Newcastle because the project is “ready to go” from a design and construction standpoint. As such, the TIB could conclude the project is not ready and reprogram the money to another state project. In addition, a majority of the right-of-way along the corridor of Phase II has been acquired and was partially funded by TIB. If Phase II were not to be initiated in the near term, then the City may be obligated to repay TIB for that expense.

3. Do Not Initiate Either Phase At This Time
Another option would be to conclude that the city lacks sufficient secured funding and should not proceed until it does. Therefore both phases should not be initiated at this time.

The upside to this option is that the City would not embark on a major project without having all funding secured and would not put the city in any immediate financial risk.

Although there is no immediate financial risk, this option would have the largest risk in the long-term. The future construction costs are unknown but most likely much higher than they already are given historical trends. It also means losing the federal money we have secured to date, and it could mean losing the TIB grants to other state projects that are ready to go. And as with Option 2, the city may need to reimburse TIB for right-of-way that has been acquired.

Construction begins on I-405 widening project

2007-06-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

On Monday, July 9, WSDOT will begin construction to widen I-405 within the city of Bellevue between 112th Avenue SE (exit 9 near the park and ride) and SE 8th Street.

You may notice construction activity as crews shift lanes on I-405 to set up work zones and move in heavy construction equipment. Ramp alignments may also change to accommodate construction. All lanes on I-405 will remain open during the day with a few lanes closed at night.

The I-405 South Bellevue Widening Project will help relieve congestion at one of the worst I-405 bottlenecks by adding lanes and improving merging conditions through the drive in and out of downtown Bellevue.

The project is divided into two stages:

Stage 1: July 2007 - June 2008
Between 112th Ave SE and I-90

Add a new northbound lane from 112th Ave SE to I-90
Build a new, three-lane, southbound bridge over I-90
Widen the existing northbound bridge over Coal Creek Parkway

Stage 2: March 2008 - August 2009
Between I-90 and SE 8th

Build one new lane in each direction from I-90 to SE 8th Street
Remove the Wilburton Tunnel
Convert the existing southbound bridge over I-90 to carry the northbound HOV lane

For more information visit the WSDOT I-405 Widening Project Website.

Windtree Park Update!

2007-06-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

Construction is getting closer! At last nights Council meeting the City Council authorized the City Manager to sign construction and access easement agreements with two property owners adjacent the North and East of the park property. The good news is that one of the easement agreements includes the construction of an asphalt path extending from 91st St to the North end of park site. (where the gravel driveway currently extends from the dead end of 121st) This will give residents a paved pathway from both the South end of the park and the North end of the park. The residents of Windtree owe both of these property owners a big "Thank You" for working so cooperatively with the City to reach this agreement.

This means that the city can now begin the process of advertising for a contractor (bidding the project) and hopefully start construction as soon as August. The public works director indicated that the park construction and landscaping would last about 3 months. If all goes well, we could see the park finished by Oct-Nov.

Parks, Fireworks, and Road closures

2007-06-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

The following is a roundup of updates from last nights council meeting:

Skate Park Public Hearing
Tonight, June 20th, the Parks Board will be holding the first public hearing on the feasibility of and possible site location for a skate park. The meeting is at 7pm at City Hall

4th of July Fireworks
This is the last year that the personal discharge of fireworks will be allowed in the city of Newcastle. If you chose to shoot off your own fireworks please be safe and use common sense especially if there will be children in the viewing area. If you choose not to hold your own fireworks display there will be a public display at Lake Boren Park. Festivities in the park begin at 6pm. From 8-10pm there will be live music and the fireworks display over the lake will begin at 10pm. There will also be several food vendors in the park during the event. Also note the following from the city website:

NO outside fireworks are permitted at Lake Boren Park. All dogs must be ON LEASH and horses are not allowed during this event. All attendees should remember that fireworks can startle or frighten animals. For the safety of others and your pets, we recommend animals be kept at home.

Coal Creek Parkway Closure
Coal Creek Parkway between Newcastle Way and Golf Club Road will be closed from approx 11:30 - 2pm on this Friday June 22nd. Traffic will be detoured along Newcastle Way and Golf Club Road during the closure. Please expect delays if you will be travelling during this time. The reason for the road closure is for the dedication of the Officer Richard Hertzog memorial. For those who have been in town for several years, you may recall that Officer Hertzog was a well respected and loved Officer of the Newcastle PD who was shot along Coal Creek Parkway while on duty.

Concerts in the Park
The Summer concert series begins next Wednesday June 27th at Lake Boren Park. For a schedule of performances visit the Newcastle Event Calendar.

Windtree Alternate Access

2007-06-16T18:13:00.001-07:00

Access into the Windtree neighborhood is challenging. The only access is via 121st Ave. which serves more than 100 homes as the sole access point from 88th St. In the past six months this bottleneck has been made painfully apparent by a few events that have caused road closures along 121st. First, during the December windstorm, a power line was downed and lay draped across the roadway for more than 6 days. There was limited access around the downed line but the situation could have been worse especially if emergency vehicles were unable to use the roadway. Second, the construction of the Windtree sewer project has caused daily short-term closures, that are not just inconvenient but pose a safety risk as well.

At this Tuesday's (June 19th) Council meeting we will be reviewing and considering changes to the TIP (a public hearing will also be held at a future meeting). The Transportation Improvement Program (or TIP) is a list of transportation related capital projects the city intends to carry out. The TIP is a planning tool that is required by state law for coordination with other local public agencies. The only change to the TIP currently being proposed this year is a project titled "Alternate Access for Windtree". Of the 18 projects identified in the TIP, this project is placed 6th in priority behind phases 2&3 of Coal Creek Parkway, general pavement overlays, and the Newcastle Transit Center. By placing this project on the TIP, it gives the city authority to begin planning for a possible project. The first step in 2008 would be to survey/study the current access and explore possible alternate locations for access roads. After a study is completed an estimate of cost for a full project would be presented to the council (presumably in late 2008).

I believe that it is important for the rest of the council and city staff to hear the opinions of the residents of Windtree on this subject. While I have been an advocate of exploring alternate access to the neighborhood I am unsure of what the best alternate might be and am curious to hear the thoughts of other neighbors. So if you have opinions on the issue please feel free to come speak at public comment period during this Tuesdays meeting or submit comments via email to cityclerk@ci.newcastle.wa.us.