Apr 10, 2019 | Vol. 14 | No. 15
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 Mandatory Boater Safety Certification
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Click to learn more about State regulations
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The Mercer Island Police Department's Marine Patrol wants boaters to be prepared for the upcoming season by taking a safety education course. This spring the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) along with state, federal and nonprofit partners coordinated an annual effort to get boaters' educated and certified before summer.
Why get certified in boating safety? For many boaters, it's the law. In Washington State, boaters who operate a vessel with a 15-horsepower engine, or larger, MUST be certified and carry a Boater Education Card to prove they passed an accredited boating safety education course.
"You are responsible for knowing the laws and keeping yourself and others safe," said MIPD Sergeant Brian Noel. "Boating trends and statistics tell us that educated boaters are less likely to get in an accident. When people take a course, they learn a wide variety of skills that can make them a better boater. We want our waterways to be safe and fun for all recreational boaters."
Generally, WA boaters have three options:
- An instructor-led course
- An online self-study course
- Or a home study and equivalency exam (for boaters who already have a lot of experience)
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Youth in High Achieving Schools Speaker
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Dr Suniya Luthar
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The City's
Youth and Family Services Department (MIYFS) and the MIYFS Foundation are pleased to bring back Dr. Suniya Luthar on
Tuesday, April 16, to the Mercer Island High School (MIHS).
From
6:00-7:30pm she will speak about the results of a 2019 survey of MIHS students, and focus on the aspects of school climate and parent-child relationships that can be modified to maximize well-being.
Dr. Luthar is an expert in studying youth who grow up in affluent communities, and her research has been instrumental in the design of various MIYFS prevention programs as well as other community services.
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Prospective Council Candidates Workshop
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Click to learn more about serving
on the City Council
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Are you thinking about running for the Mercer Island City Council? Do you have questions about the position and its responsibilities? Come join City staff on
Wednesday, April 24, from 5:30-6:30pm
at the Community and Events Center
to learn more about the duties and the unique role of the Councilmember. Basic information about serving is available on the
City's website.
To become a Council candidate, you must complete and file a Declaration of Candidacy with King County Elections, meet the qualifications for the office at the time of filing, and be registered to vote in the City of Mercer Island. In-person candidate filing starts May 13, 2019, at 8:30am (online at 9:00am) and ends on May 17, 2019, at 4:30pm (online at 4:00pm).
Visit King County Elections for more information.
Contact City Clerk Deb Estrada at (206) 275-7793 or by
email
with questions.
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Spring Recycling Event Statistics
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Click to learn more about
recycling on Mercer Island
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The City's
annual
spring recycling collection event
on March 30 was once again a great success, with impressive results.
The City's contractor reported 531 vehicles arrived, carrying a total of 53,355 pounds of discarded material, which averages to 100 pounds each, comparable to other previous events. The event also provided a collection opportunity for Mercer Island Youth and Family Services: attendees donated an incredible 81 bags of grocery items for the
City's Food Pantry
, and approximately $2,140 in cash.
Some highlights this year included:
- 22,440 pounds of appliances, scrap metal, and electronics
- 5,550 pounds of reusable household goods
- 8,020 household batteries
- 83 used tires
- 10,880 pounds of confidential paper shredded onsite
- 6,111 pounds of cardboard
- 26 cubic yards of Styrofoam
- 18 propane tanks
- 18 mattresses
The City thanks residents for their participation in protecting the environment, recycling as much as possible, and supporting the Food Pantry. Learn more about curbside recycling and other options at this
City webpage
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Replacement Trees on North Mercer Way
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Click to watch a 3-minute video explaining the tree planting project
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Several months ago, the City had to remove 19 heavily sun-damaged Norway maple trees along North Mercer Way, and replace them with a new species.
The original trees were planted during the I-90 construction in the late 1980's, and were damaged as saplings by excessive sun exposure on their thin bark; they never properly recovered.
Arborists chose Persian ironwood as the best fit for the replacement trees: though not a native species in the PNW, they are not invasive in any way, and will best tolerate the challenging site conditions.
Parks crews spent significant time removing old roots, amending the soil, and repairing irrigation prior to planting. Although they may look small today, these new trees should reach at least 20+ feet in the coming years. It is widely recognized in the horticultural field that planting a smaller tree ultimately results in the same size or bigger tree at lower cost, and many cities do the same.
Learn more about the whole project from our 3-minute explainer video. |
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