The Newcastle Community Activities Commission on Dec. 10 recommended a summer events calendar and asked staff to carry the dates forward to the city manager for final scheduling and budget review.

Vice Chair Ed Flash presided as the commission discussed six city events — fireworks on the lake, four summer concerts and Newcastle Days — and weighed the practical constraints of vendor availability, police and public-works staffing and holiday pay. "We as a city have gotten away from holding it on the actual July 4," staff noted, citing higher costs and difficulty finding vendors and staff on the holiday.

Events & Recreation Coordinator Amy told commissioners the city traditionally holds one fireworks event plus four concerts and Newcastle Days and that scheduling depends on the adopted budget and coordination with the city manager, police chief and public works. She outlined staffing issues for an observed federal holiday: public-works staff would be paid time-and-a-half for work on July 3 if the Fourth is observed on that day.

Commissioners debated alternatives. Several favored holding the fireworks on July 3 for consistency; others raised concerns about holiday pay and public-safety staffing and proposed July 2 or a nearby date as an alternative. Commissioners also discussed animal and resident impacts from fireworks and the need to minimize the span of disruptive activity.

On concerts, staff recommended a two-week gap between fireworks and the first concert to allow for banner placement, sponsor recognition and vendor setup. Commissioners agreed on a recommended concert window in late July and early August and on moving the regular July meeting to avoid conflicts.

The commission agreed to forward recommended dates to staff: concerts tentatively on July 22 and July 29, and Aug. 5 and Aug. 12; Newcastle Days on Sept. 19; and to propose moving the regular meeting from July 12 to July 19 to reduce schedule conflicts. Staff will bring these recommendations to the city manager for final date selection and budgeting.

Next steps: staff will communicate recommended dates to the city manager and prepare contracts and staffing plans for council and budget review.