I would like to express my support for a resolution to have a public advisory vote on whether to lease a portion of Mercerdale Park to MICA for the following reasons.

Mercerdale Park is a large and beautiful part of downtown Mercer Island. Once park land is given over to other uses it is gone forever. We are a small city and need not emulate an industrial center.

Given the nature of boom and bust cycles, it is quite likely that the $300,000 in annual contributions required by MICA to just break even will not be achieved. Then what? If the city will be asked to come to the aid of MICA, as it had to do in the past for Youth Theatre Northwest, what will the citizens have to give up?

These are important considerations with long-term consequences. MICA has an obligation to prove to the residents of our city why it should be given private usage of our valuable parkland. The citizens need to be made aware that the “deal” as is currently on the table is not without significant financial risks to the city.

Access to the park should not be cut off by a huge building. The parkland belongs to the residents of the city. MICA needs to justify its benefits and an advisory vote is the perfect forum for MICA to show the city that donating parkland for construction of their building is the highest and best usage of the land held for the enjoyment of all the Island residents.

An advisory vote will bring all the issues out in the open and will allow citizens to make an informed decision about the future of their park.

Al Lippert

Mercer Island