July 17, 2019 | Vol. 14 | No. 29
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 New Process for Recology Private Roads Waiver
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Click to visit the Recology
website for Mercer Island
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Last month, Recology sent a letter to all residents living on private roads and lanes, asking customers to certify that their roadway can support the weight of heavy-duty commercial collection vehicles, once the new contract starts in October. After receiving concerns about the waiver language from a number of residents, the City asked Recology to make some refinements to its protocols.
As a result, Recology has determined it will not be requiring a waiver for all private roads. Instead, its field crews will conduct more detailed site-by-site assessments through late August and contact only those residents where it believes there is risk of probable road damage. If a resident is not contacted again about road damage, no private roads waiver will be required.
The new, shorter list is expected to consist of several dozen roads only, and the affected residents will be asked to sign a revised waiver with language still under development, to be reviewed by the City Attorney. Waivers that have already been signed (approx. 200) will be returned to residents with information as to why. In some very tight access areas, Recology is also exploring using an additional, third type of collection vehicle that is approximately the size of a pickup truck.
Recology continues to work on a "Welcome Packet" to Island residents which is expected to be mailed in mid-August, and its staff will update the City Council in person at an
August 20 meeting. For routing efficiency, some residents will also be assigned a different collection day - this information is still being finalized and will be communicated in several ways. A community open house is currently planned for September at the Community and Event Center.
Residents with questions about future service and solutions should call Recology at
(206) 381-6980, or visit the
Recology website.
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New Bicycle Loop Signage
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An image of the new Loop signage;
click for more information
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The City recently added some new wayfinding signage, intended to provide guidance to bicyclists on the best direction to ride around the Island. This signage encourages clockwise travel along the Mercer Ways and supports safe use of the Mercer Ways for all by offering some measure of predictability to drivers that most bikes will (eventually) be going one direction.
It offers additional safety to cyclists because they are on the inside of the roadway, not traveling along the edge of the embankment that often drops off steeply. Over many years, the City has been extending paved shoulders along the inside of the loop, which provide a place for cyclists to stop or pull over and slow down to allow cars to pass from behind.
Staff have been working on wayfinding for the past two years in many forms to assist both visitors and residents with navigating the Island. In addition to these Mercer Island Loop signs, the City has also implemented painted bicycle sharrows along the main N-S bike route, better directional signage along the Mountains to Sound (aka I-90) Trail, and new vehicle
wayfinding around the Town Center. These processes all benefited from community feedback and employed support from transportation consultants on best practices.
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Last Week's 4.6 Earthquake
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Click for additional City preparedness information
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At 2:51 a.m. on Friday, July 12, a 4.6 magnitude shallow earthquake occurred just east of Everett, WA, felt by many people across the region including on Mercer Island. No significant impacts were reported within King County, and the City is unaware of any damage on Mercer Island. City facilities were assessed early that morning and deemed safe to occupy; the City's building inspectors were also available for resident inquiries.
The event is a good reminder to review best practices for surviving earthquakes ("Drop, Cover, and Hold On") and how to be self-sufficient after a bigger regional event that would disrupt many services, utilities, and roadways.
For many years, the City's Emergency Management program has been helping residents get prepared for natural disasters through classes, outreach education, and volunteer team trainings. Learn more about preparing for earthquakes and how to build an emergency kit.
That webpage also hosts information about signing up for the City's emergency alerting system "Alert King County" that is used for major emergencies, such as a larger, more destructive earthquake. |
Aubrey Davis Park Master Plan
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Click to learn more
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During a two-hour Study Session (
video here) at last night's Council Meeting, staff presented an update on the
Aubrey Davis Park Master Plan (ADMP) and recommended narrowing the project's focus to five key areas, based on input received during the extensive community engagement process.
- Vegetation and Soils: recommended plants and a soil improvement strategy
- Trail Improvements: focusing mostly on safety in key areas
- Accessibility/ADA Compliance: future improvements needed to achieve mandated Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliance
- Limited New Amenities: only those with sufficient community support, such as an additional restroom
- Cultural Arts/Placemaking: low-cost opportunities to enhance the character of the park, in coordination with the Arts Council
The next major step in this process will be a community open house on September 23; more detail on the Master Plan can be found on the City's public engagement website.
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