More budget outreach scheduled for 2018
In July 2017, the city of Mercer Island began a public engagement process to share information about its financial challenges with the community and to seek public input on how best to balance the budget. The current 2017-2018 budget has been temporarily balanced using a one-time surplus, but the city is projecting significant deficits starting in 2019.
This week, the city announced new meeting dates for 2018, as well as another of the very popular call-in meetings known as a Telephone Town Hall. The next community-wide meetings are:
- Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall
- Feb. 10, 10 a.m. at the Community and Event Center
- March 7, 7 p.m. Telephone Town Hall
- March 14, 1 p.m. at the Mercer Island Library
A Community Advisory Group (CAG) appointed by the City Manager has already begun meeting to review data, discuss the challenges and identify possible solutions. Ultimately, the CAG will provide a recommendation to the city; the next CAG meeting is in early January.
Council meeting dates set in January
City Council meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesdays every month at 7 p.m. in City Hall, unless otherwise posted. But in January, due to holiday date conflicts, the meetings have been moved to Jan. 9 and Jan. 23 (the second and fourth Tuesdays).
The council will also hold its annual Planning Session on Jan. 26-27 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.
Save the date: Leap for Green Sustainability Fair is April 14
Mercer Island’s Leap for Green community sustainability fair started back in 2008, to celebrate Earth Day (April 22) by promoting environmental practices and activities for kids and adults, and to raise general awareness of local sustainability resources.
The fair returns once again next year to the Mercer Island Community and Event Center on April 14. As usual, the fair will include children’s activities such as arts and crafts, educational exhibits, live music, nature-based programs, food trucks and much more.
Mostly Music in the Park issues call for musicians
Performing artists are needed for the 2018 Mercer Island Arts Council’s Mostly Music in the Park summer concert series. These popular, free community performances are held from 7-8:30 p.m. on five Thursday evenings, starting July 19, at Mercerdale Park in downtown Mercer Island. A sound system is provided.
The selection committee is accepting digital submissions this year and prefers no CDs. Interested bands should have at least three to four musicians. Email inquiries, including a website address where music samples and band photo are available, and any other additional information about the band/music that would be helpful.
A list of the five selected bands will be posted on the Mercer Island Arts Council website in early February 2018.
Submissions should be emailed to mostly.music@mercergov.org; deadline for submission is Jan. 25.
See www.mercergov.org for more.
