Reporter Staff

Luther Burbank levy set for May

The City Council has established a charter to create a committee for the parks levy it intends to place before Island voters in May.

In the coming weeks, the city will appoint community members to the group alongside three Councilmembers who the mayor will pick. All five returning Councilmembers showed interest last Monday to work in the group.

The city plans to spend as much as $101,800 to devise the measure, which will ask voters to approve a list of capital projects for the Island’s parks over the next decade. The capital improvements levy will enable the city to place the operation costs of Luther Burbank into its general budget.

Luther Burbank is currently funded by a special levy approved by voters in 2003. That levy expires at the end of 2009.

One of the Council’s concerns is the loss of public support that happened with the community center. Many groups suggested features for the facility when it was being planned several years ago. The list grew over time and eventually drove the cost of the project so high that voters rejected it. City manager Rich Conrad said this would not be the case with the parks levy.

“This process begins with the Council and ends with the Council,” city manager Rich Conrad said. “You are the governors; continue to communicate that to the stakeholder process. You will probably be spending as much time saying ‘no’ as saying ‘yes.’ If successful in coming up with a consensus package, the stakeholders group will be ready to go out, advocate and communicate this to the community.”

School levy set for March

The Mercer Island School Board voted unanimously last Thursday to schedule the 2008 Capital and Facilities levy for a March special election.

The district had been debating whether to pin the levy alongside the Presidential Preference Primary ballot in February or to arrange its own, separate election in March.

Traditionally, school levies have gone to public vote in February. However, administrators were concerned this year that the Presidential Primary may skew the local turn-out, resulting in fewer school constituents at the polls. Therefore, a number of Washington school districts have discussed postponing the levy election until March. The majority have not yet declared an official date. Last Thursday, Mercer Island decided on March 11.

“We don’t have to be lined up like soldiers with other schools. I say we set the election for March, that’s the way we’ve been leaning,” said board member Pat Braman.

The February vs March levy debate was raised during public conversation at the board meeting when Frank Morrison, speaking on behalf of the Committee for Mercer Island Public Schools, urged the board to set the date for March, and promptly.

“This is a difficult levy I see coming up, and we want to maximize our opportunity,” Morrison said. “We should declare a March date.”

Although not yet official, the preliminary 2008 Capital and Facilities Levy is estimated to cost taxpayers $7.6 million. The previous levy, which was passed in 2004, came to a total of $4.8 million.

Board member John DeVleming pointed out that holding a separate election would cost the district approximately $3,000 more than if going with the February poll organized by King County. The benefits of a March election, however, outweighed this cost.

“I’m concerned about who will be out there in February. I don’t think it will be our voters,” Braman said, referring to the school-supporting community.

Interim Superintendent Gary Plano echoed this point.

“Because our levy is significantly higher this year, we really need to get our voters out there. So I say March for schools,” he said.

The board has set the 2008 levy for the second Tuesday in March. This date, (March 11) however, can be re-negotiated if potential concerns should arise, Plano said.

Construction on 76th Avenue S.E. begins

Construction to improve the city’s water system along 76th Avenue S.E. began this week and will continue through mid-December. Crews will be working along 76th between S.E. 27th and 32nd Streets.

The project will replace fire hydrants, service lines, disconnect water mains at two locations and restore trench excavation to improve water services.

Water main shutdowns will also be required to remove and install the hydrants and to switch from the existing service lines to the new service lines. The city states it will issue advance notices to residences that will be affected by the shut-offs.

A partial lane closure is expected throughout the duration of the project and traffic control will be provided by the contractor.

The city also plans to re-pave 76th Avenue after the water service repairs are completed. In January, the city expects to begin the bidding process so it can be done in March.

For information regarding the improvements or an updated project timeline, visit the 76th Avenue project Web page at www.mercergov.org/76thAvenue or contact the project manager, Rona Lin, at 236-3271 or by e-mail at rona.lin@mercergov.org.

Boater cards required by Jan. 1

New legislation that requires boat operators to take a boater safety education course in order to operate a boat in Washington State goes into effect Jan. 1, 2008. The law will be phased in. In 2008, boaters 20 years of age and younger must obtain their Boater Education Card.

The Washington State Parks NASBLA-approved boating safety course is offered on Mercer Island by the Mercer Island Marine Patrol’s State Parks certified instructors. The course covers general aspects of boating, Washington State law and boating safety. Topics include boating equipment, marine environment, trip planning, boat operations, personal watercraft, emergency preparedness and much more.

Classes take place over two days for a total of six to eight hours. Location: Mercer Island Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E. Upcoming dates include:

a Dec. 12, 13 (two-day course), 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

a Jan. 9, 10 (two-day course), 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

a Jan. 22, 23 (two-day course), 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Pre-registration is required. Register by contacting Mercer Island Marine Patrol at (206) 236-5309 or by e-mail at keith.mcdonough@mercergov.org. Cost: $15. For more information, visit www.mercergov.org/boatersafety.

To receive a Boater Education Card, boaters must complete the course and then submit a copy of their course certificate along with the State Parks application, which is available at www.parks.wa.gov/boating/getapplication.asp. In addition to the “Adventures in Boating Washington” class, boaters also have the option to fulfill boater education requirements online.

New date, course for Rotary Half Marathon

The Mercer Island Rotary Club has announced a new date and course for its 36th annual half marathon. The event will be held on Sunday, March 9, and the course will be confined to East and West Mercer Ways.

Event staging and registration will take place at the CCMV. Pick up a race rib, shirt and sponsors’ handouts at the pre-race day EXPO, 1-5 p.m., Saturday, March 8. The marathon will benefit Colon Cancer Awareness and Rotary Foundation charities.

Register online at www.mercerislandhalf.com.

Get in the book

The Mercer Island Guild of Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center is working on the 2008 telephone directory. To update your listing, or to be added, call Karin Pangborn at 232-7046 or e-mail Lynn at Lynn0308@aol.com by Jan. 15.

The directory has been published by the guild since 1943, and proceeds go to the Children’s Hospital uncompensated care program.

Business of the year nominations sought

The Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce is again taking nomination for its annual Business of the Year Award.

There are many unsung heroes among the businesses in our community. They support other local businesses, donate to school events and events that support our non-profit organizations, and help with service club projects, to name just a few ways in which they are generous.

It is time to nominate that special business for the Mercer Island Chambers’ Business of the Year Award. Criteria for the award include:

1) How has the business made a significant impact on Mercer Island’s economic vitality?

2) How has the business brought value and benefit to the community?

The 2006 winner was Albertsons of Mercer Island and manager John Gillespie.

Mercer Island Florist was the winner in 2005, and the 2004 winner was Island Books.

A committee comprised of a community member, last year’s winner and representatives from the Chamber will select the winner. Forms are available in the Chamber office and at the next Chamber luncheon.

Businesses do not need to be a member of the Chamber. The deadline to submit nominations is Nov. 21. For more information, please call the Chamber office at 232-3404.

South Mercer turf field

Opening Day Festivities will take place at the new South Mercer multi-purpose turf field, rain or shine, from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Celebrate the city’s, school district’s and community’s work on the new field with an opening ceremony, sports demonstrations and light refreshments. For more information about the South Mercer Playfields project, visit www.mercergov.org/southmercerplayfields.

2008 School Board is set

Election results

School Board members Lisa Strauch Eggers and Pat Braman both retained their board seats in last week’s general election. Janet Frohnmayer, running unopposed for vacated Pos. 5, was also elected to a board seat.

Mercer Island School Board member Strauch Eggers, who ran unopposed for Position 3, raised $1,342 in donations for her 2007 campaign, according to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Strauch Eggers had just $138 in campaign expenditures. School Board incumbent Pat Braman, who ran unopposed for Position 1, and newcomer Janet Frohnmayer, who will replace board president Leslie Ferrell, did not have any campaign contributions or expenditures.

For 2007 School Board results, go to www.metrokc.gov/elections and for campaign expenditure numbers, www.pdc.wa.gov.

The new board members will be sworn in at the School Board regular meeting at 7 p.m., Nov. 29, in the boardroom at the School District Administration Building.

MISD offers late-start schedule impact survey

After announcing a new schedule change for the 2008-2009 school year — from early-release Mondays to late-start Wednesdays — the Mercer Island School District has emphasized that the decision is not yet written in stone. Administrators are encouraging parents to visit the district’s online Web site and fill out a Late-Start Impact Survey, which asks about the potential effects of and opinions on this schedule change.

The Web site also provides administrators’ motives and rational for switching to a late-start Wednesday. One reason given for the change was to allow high school students time in the morning to catch up on sleep, given research on adolescents’ sleep needs. Administrators go on to explain that a split schedule — early release for K-5 and late start for 6-12 — was not an option due to transportation constraints. Another interest was to provide teachers time to prepare for class at the beginning of the day.

The Late-Start Impact Survey is available on line at www.misd.k12.wa.us through Nov. 30. Survey results will be available on Dec. 5 and sent to MISD parents via listserv. Based on the results of the survey, as well as vendor availability, the district may ask the Mercer Island Education Association to revisit the planned late-start Wednesday in collective bargaining. A decision is expected in December or early 2008.

Go to www.misd.k12.wa.us for the survey.

Sales tax change to benefit cities

With the passage of Substitute Senate Bill 5089 (“Streamlined Sales Tax”), Washington will change from an origin-based system for local retail sales tax to a destination-based system.

What is the change?

Currently, Washington retailers collect local sales taxes based on the jurisdiction from which a product is shipped or delivered – “origin-based.” Next year, retailers will need to collect based on the destination of the shipment or delivery – “destination-based.” This only affects shipments and deliveries to locations within Washington State.

Effective date: July 1, 2008

Until this 2008 effective date, nothing changes about the way retailers collect, report, and remit retail sales tax. Information and assistance will be provided to help effected businesses prepare for this change.

Who is affected?

Destination-based sales tax will apply only to businesses that deliver the goods they sell to locations within Washington. Under the new rules, if a retailer delivers or ships merchandise to a buyer in Washington state, the sales tax is collected based on the rate at the location where the buyer receives or takes possession of the merchandise.

There is no change for deliveries outside the state or over-the-counter sales where customers take home goods from the store location.

Who is not affected?

If the business does not deliver merchandise, nothing will change about the way sales taxes are handled.

For example, if a buyer receives merchandise at a retail business location, sales tax continues to be based on that location - the “origin” of the sale.

Additionally, this change does not affect deliveries to locations outside the state of Washington, wholesale sales, or services, sales of motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers, aircraft, watercraft, modular homes, and manufactured and mobile homes. Sales tax will continue to be based on the seller’s location even if the seller delivers the items to customers.

2007 Q2 Mercer Island retail sales

Second quarter taxable retail sales for the city of Mercer Island were up nearly 19 percent over the same three month period a year ago. Taxable retail sales on the Island totaled $85 million for the second quarter ending June 30, 2007 up more than $8 million from the same quarter a year ago. Within King County, Mercer Island had the 12th largest amount of retail sales for the three month period. The amount of taxable retail sales county-wide for the second quarter was $795 million, up 8.6 percent over the same period a year ago. The total amount of taxable retail sales for Washington state for the quarter were up by 7.93 percent.

Reporter reader survey online

The Mercer Island Reporter, seeking to meet the needs of its community, is conducting an online survey.

In the survey, readers will be asked for their opinion of the Reporter and its content, including what they read or don’t read.

The survey will also ask readers about buying and spending trends - past, present and future, where readers shop and what types of items they purchase most frequently.

The purpose of the research is to help the Reporter understand readers’ interests, collect suggestions and insights.

The survey will be conducted by Pulse Research, a Portland, Oregon-based company that works with media companies and retailers. Participants’ names will be entered in a drawing for prizes including a $3,000 grand prize, $1,500 first prize and $500 second prize. Winners will be notified.

Pulse Research will tabulate the survey results for use by the Reporter’s circulation, classified and retail advertising and news departments. The information will not be sold, loaned or traded to third parties.

“This is a great opportunity for our readers to tell us what they like, and don’t like, about their community newspaper.” Don Kendall, General Manager of The Reporter Newspapers.

To participate in our online survey, visit the Web site: www.pulseresearch.com/mercer.