Mercer Island City Council will elect new mayor at Tuesday’s meeting

Council will also elect deputy mayor at virtual event.

By Andy Nystrom • January 3, 2022 1:30 pm
Reporter file photo
Reporter file photo

There will soon be a new mayor at the helm.

The seven Mercer Island City Councilmembers will vote to elect a new mayor from amongst themselves on Jan. 4 to take the reins from Benson Wong, who recently completed his two-year term and chose not to run for council again.

Wong served on council for eight years, first as a councilmember from 2014-2019 and the last two years as mayor during the pandemic.

Following the swearing-in ceremonies for returning councilmembers Lisa Anderl and Salim Nice and newcomer Ted Weinberg — who were all elected to council in November — at the start of the 5 p.m. virtual meeting, council will elect the mayor and deputy mayor to two-year terms. Other councilmembers are Wendy Weiker (current deputy mayor), Jake Jacobson, Craig Reynolds and David Rosenbaum.

The meeting will be broadcast live on MITV Channel 21 and live streamed on the city council’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/mercerislandcouncil.

Regular business at the meeting will feature a discussion and recommended approval of the 2022 Thrift Shop Work Plan. The proposed plan includes, in part: designing a staffing model that supports retail sales; donation collection, donation processing and online sales; and community engagement, financial planning, marketing, facility management and human resources.

Council will also hold a private executive session to discuss with legal counsel pending or potential litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). No action will be taken.

OTHER MEETINGS

The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular video meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 6. The meeting will be broadcast live on Zoom and recorded and saved on the city council’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/mercerislandcouncil.

For live-viewing information, visit https://www.mercerisland.gov/bc-parksandrecreationcommission/page/parks-recreation-commission-regular-video-meeting.

The regular-business docket will feature a review of the final draft of the 2022 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan and recommended approval and hand-off memo to city council. The commission will also discuss Special Events Policy Considerations and the Luther Burbank Dock and Waterfront 30% design.

* The city has canceled the Jan. 5 Planning Commission meeting.