When preparing the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget, the City Council and staff prudently assumed there would be no additional property tax levy revenue. Thus, to balance the budget, the City used $1.78 million in one-time funding resources, and made $1.36 million in service level reductions.

 

With the failure of the levy lid lift ballot measure ( Proposition 1), which would have cost the average homeowner about $286 per year and maintained current service levels, the Council believed it was important to take immediate steps to address the forecasted structural deficit and make swift service and staffing reductions.

 

In December, the City Council directed staff to propose an additional $1.2 million in deficit spending reductions in the 2019-2020 biennium given the significant "fiscal cliff" that is projected for 2021-2022.  A first draft of this proposal was presented at Council's February 2019 Planning Session.  Last night, the Council approved $1.34 million in reductions , for a total of $2.7 million in staffing and service level changes in the 2019-2020 budget.

 

Outside consultants are helping the City develop a fiscal sustainability plan that seeks to identify any additional efficiencies, evaluate service delivery model changes, capture further cost savings, and find new revenues. This will be presented to the City Council on April 16.

The City Council began recognizing outstanding efforts of citizens in 1990 and has continued this tradition for more than 25 years.
 
Honorees are individuals or entities whose achievements may have gone unrecognized in some settings, but who have improved Island life through a broad base of community service, fundraising, or other means.  This year's recipients (for 2018) are  Lisa and Rino Caruccio , w ho have been greatly involved in the community since becoming residents in 2006, and who opened a unique state-of-the-art culinary event center (Caruccio's) in the Town Center in 2017 to expand their community support and involvement.

 

Through their event center, Lisa and Rino are happy to nurture the community and encourage people to build relationships and treasure them. For example, they employ Fare Start employees, helping people with barriers to employment get the  skills they need for a real career; prepare and donate 20 full Thanksgiving meals for Mercer Island Youth and Family Services; support local youth and schools by offering a special rate for school organizations; and take special care and interest in their senior friends across the street at the Aljoya retirement community.

 

The Caruccio's are truly passionate about and committed to the Mercer Island community - the breadth and depth of their support for the people and the culture on this Island is commendable and deeply appreciated.

 

Read the full press release, or learn about past awardees.

Starting on April 6, 2019, canvassers with  Regional Animal Services of King County  (RASKC), in coordination with the City of Mercer Island, will go door-to-door in neighborhoods at the south end of the Island to educate residents about pet licenses. The City contracts with King County to provide animal services, and pet licensing pays for the program. 

Canvassing has proven an effective method for educating residents about the benefits and requirements of pet licensing, and was last conducted here in the summer of 2018 in neighborhoods south of SE 40th Street. The canvassers will not issue citations, but will provide free temporary licenses for unlicensed pets, allowing pet owners up to 30 days to pay for a license. Pet owners can mail their license payments to King County,  license online , or pay in person at City Hall, or Island QFC stores.

Benefits of pet licensing include:

Canvassers, identifiable by their County logo bright blue shirts, name badges and business cards, are trained to follow strict guidelines regarding conduct and attire. As a regulatory service, they are not required to obtain City  soliciting licenses , but will observe the soliciting ordinance hours, and also not contact residences that have "No Soliciting" signs posted. 

Visits will be conducted as follows: Saturdays from 10:00am-7:00pm; Sundays from 1:00pm to 7:30pm; occasional weekdays from 4:30 to 8:30pm. 

When residents are not home, staff will leave a "72-hour Notice" door hanger for those they believe have pets, or a "Sorry We Missed You" door hanger for citizens they do not believe have pets. Currently the City of Mercer Island requires that all dogs in the City must be licensed.

Major concerns or issues should be directed to MIPD Commander Jokinen at (206)-275-7914.

The City relies on the generosity of our "volunteer workforce" and is grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who dedicate their time (over 32,300 hours in 2018) and skills to help make Mercer Island the wonderful community it is.

Talented volunteers from across the Island selflessly contribute thousands of hours annually to our Emergency Preparedness Program , on Parks and Recreation projects , with the Youth and Family Services Department , in the Thrift Shop , and on a number of our boards and commissions .

To show our appreciation, April 7-13 is all about you, our amazing volunteers!   If you volunteer in any capacity with the City, please join us at the Community and Event Center (MICEC) during Community Coffee Hour on April 10 or April 12 from 9:00-10:00am to pick up a treat. If you can't make it, please swing by the MICEC front counter anytime during the week of April 7 and just let them know you are a City volunteer.

If you are looking for an opportunity to get involved, we have something for everyone; just visit www.mercergov.org/volunteer  for ideas and to get started!

Do you have a suggestion for improved pedestrian safety, better bicycle infrastructure, or roadway improvements? The City is updating its six-year transportation improvement program, known as a "TIP," covering  the six-year period beginning in 2020. The public comment period runs through April 15,  and this year comments can be submitted online, or on a map, via the City's public engagement portal: Let's Talk Mercer Island.

 

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the draft TIP at the May 7, 2019 City Council meeting, with the purpose of receiving public testimony; adoption is scheduled for June 4.  

If you have questions, or prefer to comment by Email, please contact the Public Works Department at  PublicWorks@mercergov.org