NEW — 2:35 p.m. Jan. 16, 2015
A Newcastle City Council-approved deal that continues to cause a lot of controversy headlines the agenda items for the Jan. 20 regular council meeting.
In September, the council authorized City Manager Rob Wyman to enter into a purchase-sale agreement for the Coal Creek Utility District-owned property on 129th Avenue Southeast.
In exchange for the property appraised at $750,000, the city would agree to pay $250,000 and forfeit its legal right to assume the utility district for 10 years.
It’s the non-assumption clause, in particular, that has some current, and one former, council members questioning the logic of the agreement.
At the Jan. 6 meeting, Councilman Gordon Bisset made a motion requiring Wyman to bring the contract back for council approval once it was finalized. The motion passed 6-0, with Councilwoman Lisa Jensen absent.
Mayor Steve Buri and Councilman John Dulcich continued to say that the deal was a good one for the city, but both agreed to the motion allowing the council a final pass at the contract.
The Newcastle City Council will review the contract and make a final decision on whether or not the city will go through with the deal on Jan. 20.
Other notable agenda items include review of a development agreement with the Renton School District for the new middle school and discussion of the council’s 2015 legislative agenda.
Prior to the meeting, the council will hold a closed executive session to discuss both the performance of a public employee and current or potential litigation.
After that, at 6 p.m., the council will host a join meeting with Planning Commission to review the advisory board’s Comprehensive Plan update recommendations.
All regular Newcastle City Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200.
View the agenda here.
