Council transitions complete
As 2018 kicks off, the membership of the Mercer Island City Council will be finalized, following the November election and a complicated transition that began last summer.
In July 2017, the resignation of Jeff Sanderson from Position No. 4 prompted a Council vote (6-0) to fill the vacated position immediately by appointing Salim Nice, who was running unopposed in the general election for Position No. 2. By State law, Nice was allowed to serve in that position until Nov. 28, after which time the winner of the race for that position, Tom Acker, was immediately seated.
With the departure of 18-year council veteran Dan Grausz, Nice will once again be seated on the council (in Position No. 2) per normal procedure at the first meeting in January 2018 (which will be Tuesday, Jan. 9).
Councilmember Benson Wong successfully won his re-election campaign and will continue to serve on the council in Position No. 6.
Learn more about council positions at www.mercergov.org/Council.
CAG meets this weekend
After its kickoff meeting in November 2017, the Community Advisory Group (CAG) is ready to dive into its work on the city’s financial challenges.
Its first meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center (MICEC). The 2017-2018 budget message will be reviewed, along with the 2017-2024 General Fund forecast and 2017–2024 Youth and Family Services (YFS) Fund forecast.
The nominated panel will be taking an in-depth look at Mercer Island’s finances and budget details, in order make a recommendation to City Manager Julie Underwood on a solution to the city’s budget problems.
All meetings will be held at the MICEC and are open to the public, but they will not offer a public comment period.
Holiday tree recycling still underway
The city of Mercer Island’s annual free tree chipping service is underway through Jan. 12, for Island residents.
Bring undecorated holiday trees to the city’s Public Works Shop at 9601 SE 36th St. (behind City Hall) during daylight hours. Staff will chip the tree and re-purpose the material for use in city parks, trails and open space projects.
For more information about holiday tree services, contact the Public Works department at 206-275-7608.
City explains ‘ABCs’ of parks
In its weekly newsletter, the city explained that each of the 35 public parks on Mercer Island is designated by the Parks and Recreation department as Level of Service A, B or C.
Level A parks are well manicured and the grass is mowed, weeded and fertilized regularly. Parks staff make sure the trails are clear, and bathrooms are maintained daily. Level A parks include Aubrey Davis Park (Lid, Boat Launch, Outdoor Sculpture Garden, I-90 Trail), Mercerdale Park, Homestead Park, Island Crest Park, South Mercer Playfields, Islander Middle School sports field, Luther Burbank Park and the grounds of the Mercer Island Community and Event Center (MICEC).
Level B parks are mowed less often and receive regular but not daily garbage service. These include Rotary Park, Pioneer Park, First Hill Park, Roanoke Park, Secret Park, Clarke and Groveland Beach Parks, Ellis Pond and Slater Park.
Level C parks meet basic safety standards and receive maintenance visits from staff every few weeks, but lack garbage and restroom service. Level C parks include Calkins Landing, Clise Park, Proctor Landing and 18 other street end parks.
In the 2014 citizen survey, 88 percent of residents surveyed rated the city’s maintenance of parks, trails and open space positively.
“To have so many Level A and B parks in such a small community is unusual,” stated Parks Director Bruce Fletcher. “It’s part of the great quality of life on Mercer Island. My hope is that we’ll continue to maintain our high park standards in the future.”
With a staff of 30, the department maintains 460 acres of parks and open space and 30 miles of trails, operates the city’s sports fields and playgrounds, oversees the MICEC, and delivers 150 recreational programs and events per year.
See www.mercergov.org for more.
