A relatively large crowd of about a couple of hundred people gathered outside, in this town of 10,000 people, to attend the opening day festivities of the Newcastle Library, today, before filing into the brand new structure, complete with green energy elements. Several dignitaries/politicians, such as Mayor Rich Crispo, "Blue Dog" Democratic Congressman Adam Smith (Smith officially becomes Newcastle's next congressman in January, taking over from Dave Reichert as the result of redistricting), County Executive Constantine's right-hand man, Fred Jarrett, State Representative Marcie Maxwell and others were there, including various King County Library officials. The Girl Scouts and the Cub Scouts helped in conducting the Flag Salute and the Pledge of Allegiance, but one man in the throng was grumbling about all the showy patriotism and others were grumbling about too much speechmaking, which lasted for a little less than a half-an-hour before the library actually opened close to 10:00 A.M. At least one critic, who witnessed the event from the other side of the street, said the whole endeavor was a waste of taxpayers' money as Newcastle didn't need a library. Most people seemed to enjoy the showmanship and patriotism, however, and of course supported the library. The library looked snazzy and good-looking, and coffee and cookies were being served to anybody who wanted to partake. The mayor checked out the first book, among hundreds checked out presumably, as classical musicians helped ring in a very busy first day.
Dec 5, 2012
Council Approves '13 Budget
City of Newcastle, WA -- Council Meeting of 12/4/12
With two council members absent from the December 4th Council Meeting (Mayor Rich Crispo and Councilman Steve Buri), and Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen presiding, there was neither suspense nor surprise that the Ordinance Adopting the Final 2013 Budget passed with a fairly comfortable 4-1 margin, Councilman Bill Erxleben dissenting. Erxleben said that the rules for the overall council processes were being ignored and there are mounting budget problems for the future, including his analysis that expenditures for roads in the 6 year financial forecast were understated by 2 million dollars. Councilwoman Carol Simpson downplayed roads as a major problem, implying that the emphasis on streets and roads was overplayed, and saying that Newcastle's roads were not so bad. Simpson also praised the Public Works Department for doing a great job, but then proceeded to nitpick about particular methods of job implementation by the city, generally, by recommending the use of more cost-effective means of transportation after a short critique of what she implied were wasteful methods.
Simpson and the pro-annexation (for merging with Bellevue) councilman, Erxleben, dominated this rather mundane meeting, although, the new Community Development Director, Tim McHarg, made an introductory appearance, and Amy Maxim, the city's Assistant Planner, made a presentation about proposed revisions to the Capital Facilities Plan. Finance Director Chris Olson made comments about the budget and finance concerns, generally, and seemingly agreed with those council members (Deputy Mayor Jensen, Simpson, and John Dulcich) that defeated an Erxleben motion that would have limited capital projects, as part of the 6 year financial forecast, to only those that have been applied for and permitted (Councilman Gordon Bisset was Erxleben's only ally regarding that matter). Unfortunately, N.P.R. had to leave during Maxim's presentation and before the Council's consideration of a resolution approving Indigent Defense Standards, but may have further updates on this post, later this week, about what happened.
UPDATE: N.P.R. made a mistake on this post, now corrected, regarding the name of the Assistant Planner for Newcastle, Amy Maxim, mistakenly getting her mixed up somehow with another Amy (Walen), who is a politician in Kirkland, Washington. Sorry, Amy (also, an apology to Kirkland's Amy).
[revised on 12/15/12]
With two council members absent from the December 4th Council Meeting (Mayor Rich Crispo and Councilman Steve Buri), and Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen presiding, there was neither suspense nor surprise that the Ordinance Adopting the Final 2013 Budget passed with a fairly comfortable 4-1 margin, Councilman Bill Erxleben dissenting. Erxleben said that the rules for the overall council processes were being ignored and there are mounting budget problems for the future, including his analysis that expenditures for roads in the 6 year financial forecast were understated by 2 million dollars. Councilwoman Carol Simpson downplayed roads as a major problem, implying that the emphasis on streets and roads was overplayed, and saying that Newcastle's roads were not so bad. Simpson also praised the Public Works Department for doing a great job, but then proceeded to nitpick about particular methods of job implementation by the city, generally, by recommending the use of more cost-effective means of transportation after a short critique of what she implied were wasteful methods.
Simpson and the pro-annexation (for merging with Bellevue) councilman, Erxleben, dominated this rather mundane meeting, although, the new Community Development Director, Tim McHarg, made an introductory appearance, and Amy Maxim, the city's Assistant Planner, made a presentation about proposed revisions to the Capital Facilities Plan. Finance Director Chris Olson made comments about the budget and finance concerns, generally, and seemingly agreed with those council members (Deputy Mayor Jensen, Simpson, and John Dulcich) that defeated an Erxleben motion that would have limited capital projects, as part of the 6 year financial forecast, to only those that have been applied for and permitted (Councilman Gordon Bisset was Erxleben's only ally regarding that matter). Unfortunately, N.P.R. had to leave during Maxim's presentation and before the Council's consideration of a resolution approving Indigent Defense Standards, but may have further updates on this post, later this week, about what happened.
UPDATE: N.P.R. made a mistake on this post, now corrected, regarding the name of the Assistant Planner for Newcastle, Amy Maxim, mistakenly getting her mixed up somehow with another Amy (Walen), who is a politician in Kirkland, Washington. Sorry, Amy (also, an apology to Kirkland's Amy).
[revised on 12/15/12]
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