May 16, 2018 | Vol. 13 | No. 20
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Council Takes Action to Create Commuter Parking
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Parking proposal sites; click for larger map
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On Tuesday night, the City Council discussed a significant new parking proposal for Island commuters currently under exploration. The two properties involved (see map) are located near each end of the future East Link light rail station, and could potentially add up to 200 new stalls total. The projects would help address parking pressure on the current Park and Ride, which typically fills by 7:00am on most weekdays.
One property is a small parcel of land next to Freshy's Seafood Shack, at the southwest corner of SE 24th Street and 76th Avenue SE, which the City is selling for $2.3 million to the adjacent landowner who will consolidate and redevelop both parcels. As part of the sale agreement, the property owner commits to provide an additional 70 underground commuter parking spaces for use by Mercer Island residents during peak commute hours. The commuter parking, which will come at minimal cost to the City, is valued at approximately $6.0 million, and once constructed, will be controlled by the City between the hours of 5:30am and 7:30pm, Monday through Friday.
The other site is the former Tully's Coffee site at 7810 SE 27th Street, south of the Mercer Island Park & Ride, which the City is planning to purchase and combine with adjacent property it already owns. This property is projected to support over 100 underground parking spaces with potential mixed-use development above. The City anticipates creating a public-private partnership with a developer to bring in the expertise and necessary funding to complete the project. The City would use primarily Sound Transit mitigation settlement funds to cover its portion purchase.
Additional commuter parking would make it easier for residents to use today's regional bus transit, and the future rail service when it opens in 2023. In combination with other transportation projects (such as the current Rideshare pilot, and possible future Bikeshare and Microtransit pilots) mobility options would be greatly enhanced.
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Gun Violence Awareness and Safety
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Click to learn more about
Wear Orange Weekend
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At last night's City Council meeting, Mayor Bertlin proclaimed June 1, 2018 to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the City of Mercer Island to honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and to declare that we as a country must do more to reduce gun violence. Read full proclamation.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day honors the life of Hadiya Pendleton who killed by gunfire in her hometown of Chicago when she was just 15 years old, and just weeks after she marched in President Obama's second inaugural parade. Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton's friends wore in her honor, and her family and friends ask communities to stand up, speak out, and Wear Orange on June 1st to raise awareness about gun violence.
In two weeks, the City is also launching its participation in an ongoing national campaign to keep guns out of the wrong hands, and reduce unintentional firearms deaths -- Project Childsafe. The Youth and Family Services Department and the Police Department will offer gun safety kits that include cable-style gun locks, and other safety information, at kiosks in their buildings. More information will be available soon on the City's website, or learn more from Project Childsafe here.
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Arts and Culture Goals and Policies Mailer
For many years, our community has valued its rich arts and culture tradition, exemplified by the City's Arts Council, extensive MI School District curriculum, Youth Theatre Northwest, and our impressive assortment of public art, Island-based galleries, and local artists.
The City's Comprehensive Plan, the 20-year vision statement reflecting a community's aspirations, currently lacks specific goals and policies supporting arts and culture. With that in mind, the City has embarked on an engagement process to determine how arts and culture should be made an integral part of our vision.
Watch your mailbox in the coming days for a postcard describing the proposed New Arts and Culture Goals and Policies drafted by the City's Arts Council -- we're seeking the community's input to improve the draft language.
Next steps will include review by the Planning Commission, with more opportunities for public comment, at the June 6 (6:00pm, City Hall) and August 29 (6:00pm, City Hall) meetings. |
Council to Begin Financial Challenges Deliberations
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Click to view the updated webpage
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Almost a year ago, the City began a public engagement process to share information about the City's financial challenges with the community and seek public input on how best to balance the budget.
At this week's regular meeting, the City Council received an update on the extensive outreach conducted so far, and heard the City Manager deliver the report of a 23-member Community Advisory Group (CAG), 74% of whom recommended that the issue should be taken to public vote in November. The Council will kick off its deliberations at a Public Hearing rescheduled to occur during its June 19 meeting.
Learn more at: www.mercergov.org/FinancialChallenges
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Green Yard Care
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Click for more green gardening information
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With warmer weather here in full force, many residents are thinking about their gardens! The Grow Smart, Grow Safe guide ranks hundreds of pesticides, fertilizers and soil amendments, helping gardeners find products least hazardous to people, pets and the planet.
You really can have an attractive landscape in the Pacific Northwest without using hazardous pesticides. Insecticides, herbicides and fungicides that can harm people and pets, and also pollute the environment. By gardening with nature and reducing reliance on harmful chemicals you are creating more livable neighborhoods.
Here's how you can conserve water, attract beneficial wildlife and keep a kid-friendly yard.
Learn more here
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