MI Weekly

    A weekly update from the City of Mercer Island


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(For event details, visit the City's online calendar or click on a specific event)

MAYOR
Bruce Bassett
 
DEPUTY MAYOR 

Debbie Bertlin  

 

COUNCILMEMBERS 

Dan Grausz 


Volunteer Opportunities 

Address
9611 SE 36th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040

Phone
206.275.7600


Fax
206.275.7663


Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30am to 5:00pm


Donations Requested 

The Mercer Island Food Pantry relies on your non-perishable food donations to keep the shelves stocked year-round.
Click for more info.
May 10, 2017 | Vol. 12 | No. 19
RailLight Rail Temporary Traffic Control Measures
Click to learn more about Sound Transit's temporary traffic
improvement measures, to be installed in the coming weeks
On June 3, the I-90 Center Roadway Express Lanes are scheduled to be closed permanently so that Sound Transit can begin construction of the East Link light rail project.  As part of the upcoming changes, WSDOT plans to restrict the Island Crest Way entrance to westbound I-90 to HOVs only, also starting June 3.

As soon as next week, Mercer Island drivers will begin to see temporary traffic improvement measures near I-90 in various locations.  These are overseen by Sound Transit to help control the flow of vehicles once light rail construction begins.
  • Most notable will be the addition of temporary traffic signals along North Mercer Way at the intersections of 76th Avenue SE and 77th Avenue SE  
  • Three additional WSDOT traffic cameras will be installed to help adjust traffic flows
  • More left-turn queueing space will be striped onto Island Crest Way at North Mercer Way
  • A bus-only bypass will be striped at the 76th Avenue SE westbound on-ramp
  • WSDOT will also do some preparation work for a possible future alternating, 2-lane metered entrance at the West Mercer Way on-ramp (i.e. removing today's HOV bypass)
Learn more about the light rail process in general from the City's extensive FAQ page:   www.mercergov.org/Rail-FAQ
I-90_DetourWestbound I-90 Closure This Weekend
Click for detailed closure information
This weekend (May 13 and 14), the I-90 detours return again with a Westbound closure, allowing the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to undertake final light rail preparations. Since the primary work involves re-striping roadways, this closure is weather-dependent.

Starting at 11:00pm on Friday, May 12, 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.

A
ll westbound drivers wishing to exit onto Mercer Island must use East Mercer Way. 

NOTE: Unlike recent Westbound closures, drivers will NOT initially have the option to continue through the East Mercer interchange back onto the right lane of I-90, in order to exit at Island Crest Way, until Day 2 of the closure.  The City has arranged with WSDOT to expedite this issue as quickly as possible.

Drivers wishing to reach Seattle from MI must enter the express lanes at Island Crest Way or 77th Avenue SE.  View closure map here.

Currently, only one more directional closure of I-90 is planned between now and June, 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.
Mercer Island Goes Green
Green_SchoolsLakeview Elementary Receives National Green Schools Award
Click here to learn more about Green Ribbon Schools
On May 4, the U.S. Department of Education announced that Mercer Island's Lakeridge Elementary is among the 2017 U.S. Green Ribbon Schools award honorees, acknowledging its innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education. The 64 districts and schools honored nationwide were named from a large pool of candidates nominated by 28 states; only two schools in Washington were selected this year. 

"This is such an incredible honor for our school," said Lakeridge Principal Jenny McAlaine. "Our Green Team has worked hard to make Lakeridge a model for sustainability throughout the building."  Lakeridge first formed its Green Team in 2009, spearheaded by parent Nancy Weil and teacher Heather McLyman; today Green Teams exist in every school in the MI School District. 

Lakeridge, the entire school district, and the City of Mercer Island, jointly participate in an energy-benchmarking program run by the Smart Building Center in Seattle, helping identify ways to reduce usage further.

Measures implemented at Lakeridge include energy-efficient LED lighting, initiatives emphasizing energy conservation, and light timers and sensors. Water conservation programs include student educational campaigns, and low-flow faucets in bathrooms and classrooms delivering 20 percent reductions. All grades have the opportunity to work and plant in the school garden, and a recent food waste reduction campaign led to 15 percent declines.

Learn more about Lakeridge's achievements here.
JobsSummer Jobs With the City
Click to learn more about summer jobs available
Do you have a college student who will be looking for summer work? The City's Parks and Recreation Department recently posted more part-time and full-time summer jobs to its hiring site (www.govjobstoday.com), paying $11-20/hour.  

We are looking for enthusiastic, responsible candidates who love working and playing with kids and the whole community, to join our team!   Visit www.govjobstoday.com for full job descriptions, and to apply.
  • Beach Manager  ($18 - $20/hour)
  • Lifeguards  ($11 - $16/hour)
  • Recreation Intern  ($11/hour)
  • Day Camp Directors  ($14 - $16/hour)
  • Day Camp Staff  ($11 - $14/hour)
  • Sports Camp Staff  ($11 - $14/hour) 
Dog_WalkDog Walk and Discussion at Pioneer Park
Click to learn more about Pioneer Park or comment on dog walking guidelines
Does your dog love Pioneer Park?  Come walk with Mercer Island Parks and Recreation staff and join a brief meeting to discuss how to make Pioneer Park a welcoming place for all users, with or without dogs.
            
Rendezvous at the kiosk on Island Crest Way at SE 68th Street, hear a 10-minute update, and then go for a walk around the park, chatting with staff as you go. Sociable dogs are welcome to attend. 

Choose your date:  Saturday, May 13, at 9:00am, or Tuesday, May 23, at 5:30pm. No RSVP required, just show up!                       

 

  
For questions and comments on the MI Weekly, contact
Sustainability & Communications Manager Ross Freeman at

ross.freeman@mercergov.org or 206.275.7662.