Aug 16, 2017 | Vol. 12 | No. 33
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 Advisory Group Application
 Deadline Extended!
The deadline for applying to be on the Financial Challenges Community Advisory Group has been extended to Friday, August 18, 2017 at 5:00pm.
On July 17, the Council approved a public engagement process to share information about the City's financial challenges with the community and to seek public input on how best to balance the budget.
The City Manager is recruiting volunteers to serve on the CAG and strives to appoint a broad-based, diverse group of citizens. Residents interested in serving are invited to review the meeting dates and submit an application, available here.
Read more about the history of this issue, including links to budget documents here: www.mercergov.org/FinancialChallenges. |
Collaboration Delivers Three Trail Projects For Less
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Andy Prince stands by the new trail stairs (right photo) he built with the Parks Natural Resources crew connecting SE 42nd Street between 85th Ave SE and 86th Ave SE; a new handrail, to be installed soon, will be the finishing touch.
Click for a map of other pedestrian connector trails. |
When Mercer Island schools open in two weeks, walking to school will be a little easier for students thanks to three trail improvement projects the City completed this summer. The newly refurbished trails are located in neighborhoods around Northwood, West Mercer, and Island Park Elementaries, as well as the High School, and will give students a safer, more comfortable shortcut to school.
"We chose trails that were in disrepair or needed attention, and that connect busy places and schools," says Anne Tonella-Howe, Assistant City Engineer. "We refreshed them, built them to proper width, replaced stairs where needed, and added drainage so it's not a mud hole in rainy weather. They'll improve the walk to school for kids, encourage exercise, and help better connect the whole Mercer Island community."
The trail spruce-ups were a joint effort by Public Works and Parks and Recreation staff, who collaborated on design and then used funding from Public Works and field crews from Parks to get the job done.
"We have a terrifically talented trail specialist in Andy Prince, who led much of this work. He has a great ability to fix and redesign trails so they're better for users, and increase their sustainability so they last longer and cost less to maintain down the road," said Alaine Sommargren, the Natural Resources Manager for the Parks and Recreation Department. Prince has worked as the City's Trails and Urban Forestry Specialist for over four years and has designed and constructed trails all over the Island.
Labor and materials for the three projects cost $10,000. "If we'd tried to contract this work out, we couldn't have afforded it. By using in-house staff, we can build to the same quality for significantly reduced cost," added Tonella-Howe.
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Explainer Videos Released on Residential Development Standards
After many months of community input, and recommendations from the City's Planning Commission, the City Council is now working on the final details of the updated residential development standards.
Council will meet on September 5 and again on September 19 for final deliberations, with adoption expected at the second meeting.
In order to help residents understand the various components under consideration, staff have released a series of educational explainer videos that are now available via the City's webpage, or on the City
YouTube channel
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ARCH Volunteer Board Position Available
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Click to learn more
about ARCH
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A Regional Coalition of Housing (ARCH) is asking member cities to help recruit volunteers for an open position on the
ARCH Citizen Advisory Board.
Make your voice heard on affordable housing funding and programs by joining the ARCH Citizen Ad
visory Board (CAB). The CAB consists of twelve to fifteen community residents and housing professionals that work with ARCH staff to evaluate local housing funding proposals and increase awareness of housing issues on the Eastside of Lake Washington.
Board members contribute their understanding of housing and community issues, as well as certain specialized perspectives including real estate, housing development, planning, finance, assisting persons with low income or special needs, faith community, racial diversity, architecture and residents of affordable housing. The CAB also strives to be representative of the Eastside communities that make up ARCH. The CAB typically meets one Wednesday evening per month for two hours.
More information about ARCH and the ARCH Citizen Advisory Board is on the ARCH website. To apply, please contact Jessie Tang or call (425) 861-3677 |
Mercer Island Women's Equality Day Celebration
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Click to read the City Council's Proclamation
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Everyone is invited to visit
Mercerdale Park at 7:00 pm on August 24 for the Mercer Island Women's Equality Day celebration. The event will be held
before the final Mostly Music in the Park performance of the summer
with Lemolo (Dream Pop Music) at 7:00 pm; the concert is free.
At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as "Women's Equality Day."
The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world's first women's rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.
The observance of Women's Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women's continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women's Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.
Click
here
to read the City Council's proclamation of Women's Equality Day on Mercer Island (August 24, 2017).
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Art UnCorked Returns September 8
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Click to learn more or buy tickets |
The fourth annual Mercer Island Art UnCorked event presents an evening of wine tasting, art, music and food in the heart of downtown Mercer Island, at the Outdoor Sculpture Gallery along Sunset Highway at 78th Avenue SE, on Friday September 8.
Organized once again by the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, a portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit Mercer Island Youth and Family Services and MI High School scholarships; the City is a co-sponsor of this popular outdoor event.
Over fifteen Washington vintners, brewers, and cider-makers, many with Mercer Island connections, will be pouring two or more of their products at booths, while juried artists will be showing and selling a selection of handmade artwork. Wines poured will be also available for purchase that night only at a small discount.
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