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City reports $5.8M in grant commitments for embankment project; boardwalk and sidewalks highlighted
Summary
Director Bronze updated the council on the fourth-quarter capital improvement program, reporting roughly $5.8 million in grant funding committed to the Newport Hills embankment removal and describing completed pavement, sidewalk and boardwalk work.
Director Bronze, the city’s public works director, briefed the Newcastle City Council on the fourth-quarter capital improvement program on Feb. 4, highlighting recent grant awards, completed overlays and upcoming projects.
Why it matters: The CIP briefing summarizes capital projects, grant funding and permit status that determine when construction can proceed. Bronze said the city secured its largest single grant in the last decade and identified committed funds to carry a major embankment removal project into construction when permits are approved.
Key updates reported by Director Bronze:
- Grants and major projects: Bronze said the Newport Hills embankment removal and associated May Creek Trail Bridge have grant funding that “totals just about $5,800,000,” and he said the city is targeting 2027 or 2028 for construction pending Department of Ecology and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits. He listed three King County Flood Control District awards in successive years (cited in the meeting as roughly $500,000, $1,000,000 and $1,500,000) and described a FEMA high-hazard dam grant of about $2.5 million that is still being processed.
- Boardwalk and fishing dock: Bronze said the Boardwalk project and an Esplanade connection were funded with a total of $1,300,000 in grants: $500,000 from the King County Parks Levy and $800,000 from the state legislative capital budget. He also said a fishing dock project included approximately $60,000 in grants.
- Pavement and sidewalks: Achievements included pavement overlays on two corridors, new sidewalks on 112th Avenue Southeast and May Creek Park Drive, and the installation of a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) near City Hall.
- Cemetery fence: Bronze told the council the cemetery fence contract has been awarded; contractor submittals were expected imminently and work was conservatively expected to complete by March. He said grant funds will cover the cost of that work.
Bronze described the city’s recent successes securing competitive grants from entities including the King County Flood Control District, King County Parks Levy and Transportation Improvement Board. Council members asked several follow-up questions about grant mechanics and percentages covered; Bronze said grants covered an estimated 12% of total 2024 capital expenditures overall but that success has been strongest in stormwater and parks programs.
Ending: Council members thanked staff for the update and indicated additional questions would be addressed in follow-up staff briefings and the city’s planning calendar as project permits and grant processing continue.
