PSE to remove trees on First Hill

In conjunction with a utility upgrade and reliability project, Puget Sound Energy has contracted the Asplundh Tree Expert Company to undertake a removal and restoration project at 7210 SE 32nd St. in Mercer Island.

“The current evergreen trees are spaced too close together, have been repeatedly topped due to interference with high-voltage electricity transmission lines, and have developed disease and decay,” according to the city’s newsletter.

The decision to have these trees removed and replaced in the interest of public safety, uninterrupted utility services and establishment of a more sustainable urban environment, and is supported by several years of certified arborist and tree risk assessor reports tracking their decline, according to the city.

Utilizing a greater than 1:1 replacement ratio, the restoration planting will incorporate a mix of trees, shrubs and groundcover that will require less maintenance and detrimental pruning, and will not reach the height of the powerlines.

Want to learn more? Puget Sound Energy provides helpful guidelines for planting around utilities.

Contact PSE’s Utility Forestor Courtney Persson at courtney.persson@pse.com, or the city’s Right-of-Way Arborist Hannah Van Pelt at hannah.vanpelt@mercergov.org or 206-275-7819 for more information.

Council meetings to change to Tuesdays

At its July 17 meeting, the Mercer Island City Council officially voted to change its regular meeting day from the first and third Mondays of the month to the first and third Tuesdays of the month. This will go into effect for the first regular council meeting in September on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

This topic was discussed at the council’s January planning session and its May 1 meeting, when it discussed amendments to its Rules of Procedure.

For more, see www.mercergov.org/CouncilMeetings.

City to continue I-90 lobbying

The city of Mercer Island, with its Congressional Delegation and regional partners, made a solid lobbying push just prior to the closure of the Interstate 90 center roadway to seek the support of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to “grandfather” the Island Crest Way on-ramp for single occupant vehicles.

Sen. Patty Murray also reached out and called the USDOT Secretary on Mercer Island’s behalf. However, the secretary does not believe she has the authority to grant this exception, and reaffirmed that the Island Crest Way on-ramp would convert to HOV only when the center roadway closed on June 3.

The Mercer Island City Council discussed its lobbying strategy going forward at its July 17 meeting.

“Access via Island Crest Way for all traffic remains an important priority for the Council and community,” according to the council’s agenda bill. “Nevertheless, the federal lobbying strategy to achieve this is complicated, lengthy, and uncertain. Further, we were informed that even if we were to pursue legislation and Congress adopts it, the USDOT may not support our request due to the precedent it would set.”

In consultation with Congressman Adam Smith, who had been one of the city’s strongest advocates, city staff determined that lobbyists are needed to help navigate the unclear path forward, especially with the current political environment at the federal level, according to the agenda bill.

The contract with Washington 2 Advocates (W2A), the city’s lobbyist, ended on June 30, and staff recommended continuing to retain W2A under their “bullpen rate” of $2,500 per month and reaching out to other lobbyists for additional opinions and insights on strategy.