[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6217119,"mediaKeyId","3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac","parentId",3649363,"title","Council unanimously approves creating a Newcastle city flag","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",6265000,"endMs",6453000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac&start=6265&end=6453","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac/thumbnail_6265000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6217119/Washington/Council-unanimously-approves-creating-a-Newcastle-city-flag","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217119-3ecab15c7cb079c75518fbd99423469d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442625&Signature=IrVJSi05tKC-MTEYL0UNXG5-SIVNE3fLIfsO32rz4IitCeB8h9UQU0qIsCPBSzQsWVRGOwFbvtEMMxcIF0xq96GP0mbmDkfz9NqNH6GmHMMmiWGwP7L4vS1OSVmX8Qetoie6UWfBeuYM~yDoLUoaJ-Dq2HMdxSuR9ZQ38HP6Sl4pzu4WlUAKMQbCkoK2eU7leUZTuN-Mn6Vtxgiqo9-hVk3w0AveWhxipPySzNr2La3FfFqM6wpWuHzdszeTsYAAoGChleqbNaWzrpsKwtVSkQyi7A9OoiCZRoT3en9ST2HM00VX4hrPltWY-UlpDJqkAjG4S7TtxeRqZ~9I9N-lzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Newcastle, WA","date","2025-06-04T16:16:11Z","article","The Newcastle City Council voted unanimously (7‑0) on June 3 to create or rejuvenate a city flag and directed staff to locate any existing city flag for reuse or to procure a replacement.

Council member Burford moved for the council to obtain a flag using the city emblem and maroon/white colors; the motion was seconded and passed without objection. Staff said a flag used previously exists in the city’s history but is not currently on hand; staff estimated the cost of a new, quality flag at approximately $200.

Members and residents spoke in favor of a flag as a symbol of municipal identity. Former council member and resident Carol Simpson told the council she remembered a city flag displayed at Association of Washington Cities conferences and stressed the civic value of having a flag: “There’s 271 cities, and all the cities who were there have the parade of flags,” she said during public comment, urging the city to reclaim that tradition.

Council members said a local flag could be used at city events, Newcastle Days, and when the city is represented at intercity gatherings; staff said they would search city records for an existing flag and proceed to order a replacement if none is found.

The council provided no new budget appropriation for the flag purchase at the meeting; staff said they could buy a replacement within existing small‑purchase authority and would report back if larger costs or custom design work were required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-06-03 Council","oneSentenceSummary","The council voted 7-0 to create or rejuvenate a city flag for Newcastle; staff said a previously used city emblem exists and a new or replacement flag could cost roughly $200.","taxTitle","City Council Meetings, Newcastle, King County, Washington","taxId",71821,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6217124,"State legislative session brought funding wins for Newcastle, lobbyist and representative tell council",758,977000,1735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac&start=977&end=1735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac/thumbnail_977000.jpg","/articles/6217124/Washington/State-legislative-session-brought-funding-wins-for-Newcastle-lobbyist-and-representative-tell-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217124-20c8c513c78b79fc67946bda3391e19e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442625&Signature=Zm6qePCd9U~W9hJPpDKSB2G70tx0Io5KFkDn8VyFoMIDRcD2~8A6xMcN3sy5eVSBAD4tOa9mQi~d1UKThSEKD9WnPwp-iZhqKPWs6gPqrovXjqfS3~bU6iEzFRGQjjQPSGsdc-OHI55~Jsr8~mZVyZ5PsOao-9TXf-IoBvjD7Ymy7DWwCTClpyzcrG~Xufy0WcXffe~BJ1Rea3U832P9~dc6iWxFydgLh1UUFEFBGYpg9sj2mZng8kxPnlu74Ob3XEEcB36Y4Bwl9aCPsWgQ~1B5~S7ginhlxfvOL23t8xd20n22luAt2vTt95QgX~BLpLFkvSZ6kuMl7eqlXK9p8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City lobbyist Shelley Holder and Representative Janice Zahn briefed the Newcastle City Council on results from the 2025 Washington State legislative session on June 3, describing a mix of budgetary wins and policy changes relevant to the city.

Holder, who represented the city in Olympia this session, summarized the budgets and outcomes and said the 2025 session — the first of a two‑year biennium — produced a new operating budget of about $77.8 billion, a $7.5 billion capital budget and a $15.5 billion transportation budget. She said the legislature adopted roughly $3.2 billion in new revenue for transportation and left about $2.3 billion in reserves.

Holder told the council the city secured $335,000 for Lake Boren Park North End access improvements “due to the leadership of our 40th District legislators,” and praised collaboration that allowed House Bill 1791 to pass; that bill permits cities to dedicate real‑estate‑excise‑tax (REET) revenues to regional affordable housing projects outside city limits, a change from prior law.

Representative Janice Zahn, appointed during the current legislative cycle, said she met weekly with city staff and the lobbyist to track Newcastle priorities. Zahn described several bills of interest: House Bill 1811 establishes training pathways and a co‑responder workforce for behavioral health crisis response and the operating budget included a $4 million grant program (administered through the Association of Washington Cities) for communities to set up alternative response programs; House Bill 2015 created a local option sales tax authority for certain criminal justice purposes (and the operating budget included $100 million for jurisdictions to support law enforcement hiring).

Zahn noted transportation tradeoffs in the capital budget and said some transportation projects were deferred to preserve reserves; she said funding was secured to complete the SR‑405 widening project that directly affects Newcastle residents.

Shelley Holder also described other policy changes of likely local relevance: a bill on lot‑splitting (affecting code updates), a transit‑oriented development bill that clarified frequent transit definitions, and Senate Bill 5509 on childcare facility siting. Zahn called attention to House Bill 5148 related to Growth Management Act housing‑element compliance and said the legislature allocated $600 million to the Housing Trust Fund.

Councilors asked about how small cities like Newcastle could access co‑responder and other funds. Holder and Zahn said the $4 million AWC grant program is one‑time start‑up money and that House Bill 2015 provides a local ongoing sales‑tax option city councils could consider to fund public safety or co‑responder models, while ongoing program costs remain a local budgeting challenge.","The city lobbyist and the newly appointed 40th District representative briefed council on the 2025 legislative session: operating and capital budgets, $335,000 for Lake Boren Park access, REET flexibility for regional housing, new co‑responder training and small grants, and other bills with potential local effects.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6217128,"Council reviews six‑year transportation plan as federal grants, REIT revenues and curb ramp work reshape schedule",1574,4864000,6438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac&start=4864&end=6438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac/thumbnail_4864000.jpg","/articles/6217128/Washington/Council-reviews-sixyear-transportation-plan-as-federal-grants-REIT-revenues-and-curb-ramp-work-reshape-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217128-2e087383196b9f3e566e6f806f9fa9eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442625&Signature=aiTiTIW6Khz4LugXPCZ4mfvgppdqjDRSzJ~YNGjJOspDihJjkFGiNktCZz7epuwI2jTt~hMXKfl9MoJaeyX9EhyTq~ONHH~mlgaJqmDUbj~QdKAbqHLndc7EsdqrgjasNElDM3QOhOYQgS7JEstL--6gnBd384gIiyFB9ztxc2jIpeyy8Dl4XM19~X-1T46BzNY5vt55pFRZkghS5WlsBpTNiR703P1JEyLDrxsxKL3a~deyhkLAh7wN2KlnsnnwEKFiJAZaoKRSIPVxNXKevXRAZ5vOxBWb98vO-Nv4BVGVHmpfUqE~kFyWsdhpwLiwvYXQXcUhCgplY6DDBee0uA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City transportation staff presented a draft update of Newcastle’s six‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on June 3, highlighting changes driven by lower real‑estate‑excise‑tax (REET) revenue, scheduled federal grant matches, and the need to upgrade substandard curb ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

Director Bronze (presenter) said the TIP is “a planning document required by state law” and that projects generally must be on the six‑year TIP to be eligible for grant funding. The draft TIP covers 2026–2031 and shows a roughly 30% drop in six‑year expenditures compared with the prior TIP because REET receipts have declined.

Staff described key items in the draft: two federal grants are anticipated for even years (2026 and 2028) for overlay projects on Lake Washington Boulevard and segments of Coal Creek Parkway; each requires a 50% local match. The plan also includes work to repair or replace substandard curb ramps as part of pavement projects — tasks that raise project costs because many ramps date from before current standards and must be rebuilt to ADA dimensions and grades.

Director Bronze explained technical constraints: “When you do an overlay, you’re required to bring up any substandard curb ramps to current standard,” and that curb‑ramp work often benefits from being constructed before or separate from asphalt crews. The department also noted a projected $1,000,000 engineer’s estimate increase for project T33 (crossing at Waterline Trail), partially offset by a $500,000 Transportation Improvement Board grant.

Councilors debated moving specific projects earlier in the schedule. Council member Charbonneau asked whether Coal Creek Parkway improvements (the “QFC parking lot” intersection) could be advanced from 2030 to 2027; staff said moving it to 2027 is feasible without harming cash flow. The council also agreed to swap the sequencing of two neighborhood projects so the Golf Club Road/Newcastle Way improvement appears earlier in the plan.

No final TIP adoption occurred at the meeting. Staff said the draft will return for a public hearing and adoption at the June 17 council meeting, and that the adopted TIP typically feeds into the city’s capital improvement program and the budget process in the fall. Staff also recommended updating the capital facilities plan appendix later this summer to keep the documents consistent.

The TIP draft shows funding sources roughly distributed as: about 60% from REET, 20% from grants, 14% from impact fees, and about 6% from the stormwater (SWIM) fund for drainage elements. Staff emphasized that if revenues decline further projects will be pushed out to keep the TIP balanced.","Staff presented a draft 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The plan reflects smaller REET revenues, two federal grant cycles in even years, and added curb‑ramp upgrades tied to ADA standards; council requested a few project scheduling adjustments and will take final action June 17.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6217133,"Council delays website redesign after debate over $30,000 contract and hosting costs",1787,2911000,4698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac&start=2911&end=4698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3649363-a6330388c2f1279af56940c7a889aeac/thumbnail_2911000.jpg","/articles/6217133/Washington/Council-delays-website-redesign-after-debate-over-30000-contract-and-hosting-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217133-4b86f9883b1aabce3e93e0964eb3e52d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442625&Signature=MToHs9qhfkBLmnheQHUwE1MO~2kea7fVCLfqz7LKtDzWrJ~u3snui3yyR-f-Qe8d~w70uUYqhLtP0ciIPeYN-OpNFn36FgD5OUnhxSOR1TveQ9KuTPmi-jHWqYXehJbjifY9waEZgPOTOtLfdbQ-MZvtalAZfpyAta-aNacyjACZEZly34d30ic6eUT8oJUoGzzdgaj0z44m~7RtYTLYQQAnZt-H-bwMCIeDk0E1DKDQIAUVubRulPCVpax6cHcAIv91xEHCJfjwmvKEzmxGeUSeu6fq67ayT5hEVaObvfe0XuYB5h-5n7v2rVn7RlGlYgCjQP-jr-ImjZJ8NYephw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newcastle City Council voted 4-3 on June 3 against approving a $30,000 contract to redesign the city website, after several council members said they needed clearer information about ongoing hosting costs and contract terms.

City Clerk (presenter) told the council, “Tonight before you is a ... resolution to approve a contract with Black Cat Studios” to build a new WordPress site intended to replace the city’s current proprietary system. The proposal from Black Cat Studios (designer Jen Pack) included a recommended third‑party hosting plan priced at roughly $240 the first year and $360 per year thereafter.

Council members said they supported a modern, easier‑to‑navigate site but disagreed on whether the hosting costs and contract schedule should be locked before approving the redesign. Deputy Mayor Lakota urged a safeguard on recurring costs: “I would just want ... in the contract that they lock the hosting cost $360 for 7 years,” she said. Council member Charbonneau argued the opposite, saying there is a “cost to inaction” given staff and resident complaints about the current site.

Supporters of the contract, including Council member Sherlock, said owning a WordPress site would give the city flexibility and reduce long‑term costs compared with the current vendor arrangement. Sherlock said she was “in favor of moving forward with the redesign,” and noted that once the site is built the city would be free to change hosts.

Staff described the present arrangement with CivicLive (now part of PowerSchool) as restrictive and increasingly costly: the city manager reported the city began paying about $4,000 a year in hosting in 2015 and that the annual fee has grown since. Staff said the redesign would produce a city‑owned WordPress site so the city would not be locked to a single vendor after launch.

The motion on the resolution to authorize the city manager to execute the contract with Black Cat Studios failed on a 3‑4 vote. Council members who opposed the resolution said they want staff to provide a firm hosting price and options before committing to the $30,000 build cost; proponents said delaying would prolong residents’ difficulty finding key city information.

The council directed staff to return with further information on hosting options and contract terms; staff proposed a January 1, 2026, launch window if the contract is later approved. In the meantime, the city will remain under its existing website contract and staff said they will pursue additional background information about hosting providers and potential multi‑year hosting rates.

Planning and next steps include a revised contract packet at a subsequent meeting with explicit hosting price quotes and details about cancellation/proration under the city’s current CivicLive agreement.","The Newcastle City Council declined to approve a $30,000 contract for a website redesign after members split over uncertain ongoing hosting costs; staff said the redesign would move the city off a proprietary platform and that hosting can be chosen after the build.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council unanimously approves creating a Newcastle city flag

State legislative session brought funding wins for Newcastle, lobbyist and representative tell council

Council reviews six‑year transportation plan as federal grants, REIT revenues and curb ramp work reshape schedule

Council delays website redesign after debate over $30,000 contract and hosting costs