Apr 19, 2017 | Vol. 12 | No. 16
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 City Operations to Run Exclusively on Wind Power Starting 2019
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An example of a wind turbine at the Wild Horse wind farm; click to learn more about PSE windpower |
As part of its Earth Month activities, on April 19 the City announced that it will buy 20 years of clean wind power to replace its current mix of electricity. Today, 60 percent of the power supplied regionally by Puget Sound Energy derives from coal and natural gas. The City's contract for 2019-2039 will replace those fossil fuels under PSE's new Green Direct program, covering its annual municipal usage of three million kilowatt-hours.
"Moving 100 percent of Mercer Island facilities away from fossil fuel-based electricity to clean, renewable wind, is just the kind of program we had in mind," said Mercer Island Mayor Bruce Bassett. "We appreciate PSE's significant efforts to implement this new direct-purchase option in Washington, and we look forward to directly funding a new windfarm."
Over the long-term, the City believes it will save money via the contract, according to Ross Freeman, City Sustainability Manager: "A two percent yearly inflation rate is built in, but based on historic data, future power rates are forecast to increase by approximately 2 to 4 percent per year."
This initiative is just one example of the City's ongoing commitment to sustainability, renewable energy, and carbon-footprint reduction. "Ever since our record-breaking residential
Green Power sign-up campaign in 2012, we've been looking for other ways to reduce our community's carbon footprint," said Mayor Bassett.
For example, through various City programs, Mercer Island has installed substantial amounts of residential and commercial
solar generation, and is now approaching
1000 kilowatts of local production capacity.
By making the electricity usage of all City operations carbon-neutral, the entire Island community will take a major step toward significant carbon reduction.
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Westbound I-90 Closure This Weekend
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Click for detailed closure information
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This weekend (April 22 and 23), the I-90 detours return with a Westbound closure, allowing the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to undertake light rail preparations inside the Mt Baker and Mercer Island tunnels.
In addition, weather-permitting, WSDOT will begin the work involved to restripe the general purpose roadways in both directions to accommodate a future HOV lane. The new lanes will not open to traffic until June 3, the same date as the permanent closure of the center roadway for light rail construction.
Starting at 11:00pm on Friday, April 21, the WSDOT will funnel westbound traffic from Bellevue to the center express lanes for construction purposes. The detour will end as usual by 5:00am Monday. Click here for other scheduled closures.
All westbound drivers wishing to exit onto Mercer Island must use East Mercer Way, but will have the option to continue through the interchange back onto the right lane of I-90, in order to exit at Island Crest Way. Drivers wishing to reach Seattle from MI must enter the express lanes at Island Crest Way or 77th Avenue SE. View closure map here.
Several more weekend directional closures of I-90 are planned between now and June 3 while the State builds all-day bus and carpool lanes next to the regular lanes. This work will allow the center I-90 roadway to be dedicated to Sound Transit light rail construction starting June 3, 2017. |
Light Rail Litigation Update
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Click for the full press release
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On April 7 and April 13, King County Superior Court Judge Andrus heard oral arguments on Sound Transit's and WSDOT's lawsuits challenging the City's authority to address the adverse parking, traffic, and safety impacts caused by Sound Transit's East Link Project. The City's position was that it had authority with respect to its issuance and review of Sound Transit's shoreline development permit and light rail station building permit.
Regarding the April 7 hearing, Judge Andrus ruled that State law does not allow the City to address adverse impacts that occur outside the shoreline jurisdiction using the shoreline permit, and prohibited the City from rescinding the shoreline permit on that basis. The City intends to appeal the decision to the Washington State Supreme Court.
On a parallel track with litigation, the City is actively pursuing the possibility of a negotiated solution. "Litigation is expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is uncertain," noted Mercer Island City Manager Julie Underwood. The City is pleased by the recent formation of a small negotiating team composed of three Sound Transit Board members and three City Councilmembers, who have tentatively planned to meet on April 24.
"Our residents have only one route on and off the island: I-90. The change in the project that reduces Town Center onramps from three to just one for single occupant vehicles (SOV's), and eliminates the SOV onramp from Island Crest Way, is a significant alteration that definitely will impact the island," states Underwood. "This would be similar to eliminating the SOV onramps from Mercer Street to I-5 in Seattle or NE 8th Street to I-405 in Bellevue." The City will be preparing its own Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to quantify these issues.
Underwood cautions that the I-90 center roadway is still likely to close on June 3 of this year (as recently announced by WSDOT), and the City will be working with residents to make sure they have the information needed to be prepared for significant changes in their morning commute.
Read the full press release here. |
Community Appreciation Day, April 28
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Click for more information
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The City's
Parks and Recreation Department has organized a new fun-filled, free event:
Community Appreciation Day, Friday, April 28, from 9:00am-5:00pm, at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center (MICEC).
All Islanders are invited to
stop by the MICEC for treats, refreshments, drop-in recreation programs, use of the Fitness Room, and more...all for FREE! We want to thank YOU for all YOU do!
Here's what the City has scheduled for this special day:
8:00-9:00am
: Drop-in Power Flex
9:00am-5:00pm
: Gourmet Beverage Bar
9:00am-5:00pm
: Raffle prizes
9:00am-11:00am
: Pancake Breakfast
9:30am-2:00pm
: Drop-in Pickleball
10:00am-Noon
: Indoor Playground
11:30am-12:15pm
: Nancy Stewart, children's singer-songwriter
12:00-4:00pm
: Hotdog BBQ
1:00pm: Meet-and-Greet with City Manager, Julie Underwood
2:30-5:00pm: Drop-in Open Gym
7:00-9:00pm: Drop-in Badminton
- Wellness-Worthy Treat Bar: available throughout the day
- Entertainment: throughout the day, featuring local musicians
- Fitness Room: usage throughout the day
- Fitness Room Orientation: provided by MIPR personal trainer, Susie Rosenstein.
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I-90 Trail Wayfinding Signage Open House
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An example of a sign concept
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With the help of a citizen's stakeholder group, the City is designing wayfinding signage to be used to direct motorists to our Town Center and guide pedestrians and bicyclist from the
Aubrey Davis I-90 Regional Trails to local amenities and attractions in the Town Center.
The City is seeking the community's help in selecting a preferred concept for the signage that is attractive, aesthetically pleasing, consistent, and meaningful to the community. An open house is scheduled for
Thursday, April 27, at the City Hall Council Chambers (9611 SE 36th Street).
Interested residents are invited to drop by any time between
5:30 and 7:00pm to view and comment on the proposed preliminary concepts. For more information, contact Assistant City Engineer Anne Tonella-Howe by phone at
(206) 275-7813.
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