The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The meetings begin at 7pm and take place at City Hall.

The City Council is composed of seven persons elected by the registered voters residing within the corporate limits of Newcastle . Each non-partisan Councilor is elected at-large to a four-year term. All seven positions on the Council are considered part-time, and often members of the City Council have employment apart from the City.

Every two years, the City Council itself elects a Mayor from among its seven members. The role of the Mayor is to preside over City Council meetings and at attend to the ceremonial duties of the City (see RCW 35A.13.030). The Council itself also elects a Deputy Mayor every two years, who serves as the Mayor in the absence of the Mayor. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and City Councilors often attend regional, State-wide, or even national meetings as representatives of the City of Newcastle to help shape policies or responses to items whose scope or significance effects but goes beyond the boundaries of the City alone.