Mercer Island Reporter, July 22, 2015

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Candidates discuss education

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Lunchtime concert series begins today As part of Pianos in the Park, join your friends at the Mercerdale Park Plaza for MICA’s Brown Bag Concert series, held every Wednesday at noon. This week features concert pianist Natalya Ageyeva and her piano students.

Six Islanders running in primary talk City Council, School Board issues

ADA rally tonight

By Joseph Livarchik

Join a regional celebration for the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act from 4-6 p.m. at Westlake Center in Seattle. There will be music, clowns, kids’ events and fun for all. Speakers include Sen. Cyrus Habib, Sen. Patty Murray, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and Stuart Pixley.

Be sure to stop by the Community and Event Center Gallery to see The Brain Injury Alliance of Washington Art Show. The last day to view the art from 37 unique artists is July 24.

Blood drive July 24 John L. Scott is sponsoring a community blood drive from 2:30-5:30 p.m. on Friday in the parking lot of McDonald’s on 78h Avenue S.E. Remember to eat, hydrate and bring a photo ID.

New Mercer Island Listing

Growth has been a topic of community discussion on Mercer Island throughout 2015; and not if the city should manage growth, but how. The Island is anticipated to reach a population of 25,296 by 2035, up from 22,801 in 2014. Other cities have used tools given to them by the state Legislature to ensure that “growth pays for growth;” that new developments mitigate their incremental impact on schools, roads and parks. The tools, Growth Management Act (GMA) impact fees, may soon be used by Mercer Island as well. The population numbers come from a technical memo on parks

impact fees from Berk Consulting presented to the City Council on July 20, after the Reporter deadline. The memo recommends that the city switch from charging SEPA mitigation fees to impact fees to pay for new investments in parks. What the funds can be used for depends on how you define “investment,” said the city’s Development Services Group (DSG) Director Scott Greenberg. “You couldn’t use them to paint a swingset, but you could maybe use them to replace a swingset,” he said. “You have to show the improvement is related to a growing population.” Impact fees have a few more rules than SEPA mitigation fees.

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Mercer Island

Last chance to see MICEC art show

New developments may pay for parks

They must be spent in six years, and on specific capital projects. But they also have fewer exemptions, meaning they will bring in more revenue. In the last five years, the city issued 190 building permits and 138 demolition permits for singlefamily homes, which are exempt from SEPA. “This is a net increase of 52 new homes for which GMA impact fees could have been collected,” according to a Council agenda bill from March 16. Projects are exempt from SEPA review if they add less than four detached single-family residential units or four multi-family residential units. Apartments are going up in the Town Center, single-family residences are torn down and lots are subdivided, and condos are being built or planned. Mercer Island is not growing as fast as other communities in the Puget Sound region, though. The King County

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Enjoy the sounds of Indie folk music with “West My Friend” from 7-8:30 p.m. on July 23 in Mercerdale Park. This is the first event of many offered in July and August as part of the Arts Council’s annual summer concert series.

City of Mercer Island/Contributed Photo

The dedication ceremony for the new Fire Station 92 included a procession past the almost-complete art installation, which consists of two beam segments from New York City’s Twin Towers.

Roughly 70 people packed into the Mercer Island School District administrative board room to hear City Council and School Board candidates discuss education topics at a voter forum Monday evening, July 13. Presented by the Mercer Island PTA and moderated by PTA advocacy committee member Cynthia Winiski, the forum was divided into two parts, focusing first on the Council candidates, followed by those running for School Board. An audience Q&A session followed both portions. Council candidates, running for

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Mostly Music in the Park kicks off Thursday

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