Mercer Island Reporter, October 07, 2015

Page 1

REPORTER

Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2015 WEDNESDAY, MARCH7,20, 2013| |75¢ 75¢

Chamber hosts council candidates

Home Sweet Homecoming

Joint City-School meeting tomorrow The City Council and School Board will meet from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 8 at City Hall to go over ”education-related issues.”

Eight running for City Council talk Town Center, economic development

Share thoughts on library renovation Join KCLS for a community forum from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Meet the architects working on the Mercer Island Library renovation, see the draft plans and recommended changes, ask questions and share comments.

By Katie Metzger

kmetzger@mi-reporter.com

SJCC announces new cultural arts season TheJ announced its cultural arts lineup for 2015-16. See story on www.mi-reporter.com and calendar on page 19.

life Have the ! you want 1421328

By Katie Metzger

kmetzger@mi-reporter.com

Mercer Island residents had a chance to provide input and identify potential issues with East Link light rail, the I-90 center lane closure and other upcoming projects that Sound Transit, Metro and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are working on to connect the region by rail. As may be expected, the region weighed in as well. Sound Transit’s Mercer Island listening tour became a topic on the Seattle Transit Blog and Crosscut, with headlines “Dear Mercer Island: Public Space is for Public Use” and “Mercer Islanders showcase a purer form of entitlement,” with both sites chiding Mercer Island

for wanting “special privileges.” Sound Transit Public Information Officer Bruce Gray said that the idea of a “listening tour” is not unique to Mercer Island; the agency undertook similar outreach efforts in southeast Seattle before building link light rail to SeaTac and recently wrapped up negotiations with the city of Bellevue after addressing concerns of residents there. This step is a “one-way dialogue by design,” Gray said. King County Executive Dow Constantine, who chairs the Sound Transit Board of Directors, deemed it a “step back.” Gray said that the goal of the tour is to be more transparent, noting that many of the Mercer Island issues revolve around information coming to the public “fully

Registered Investment Advisors

CHAMBER | PAGE 2

REPORTER

The I-90 detours are back after a summer hiatus. Lanes will close 11 p.m. on Friday Oct. 9, and open at 5 a.m. Monday, as WSDOT funnels westbound traffic from Bellevue to the center lanes for construction purposes. To reduce the impacts of the closures on residents, WSDOT will try out a new option: using the Island Crest Way exit in addition to East Mercer Way.

Track laid for light rail discussions

cooked.” The Mercer Island City Council heard a report regarding the I-90 loss of mobility negotiations at its meeting on Oct. 5, after the Reporter deadline. Sound Transit staff will come back to the Council with a list of identified issues on Oct. 19, along with a plan for which agency should handle the issue and a timeline to reach solutions. The Sound Transit board will review the issues at its Oct. 22 meeting. Tough negotiations may lie ahead on a few issues, including a “bus intercept” that would have buses turning around on Mercer Island once light rail service begins to eliminate redundant service into downtown Seattle. But the city and agencies may agree on other ideas, like adding more bus service around the Island to feed into the transit center. The need for bus-rail integration is also not unique to Mercer Island, Gray said, or to East Link.

Mercer Island

Westbound I-90 to close this weekend

Joseph Livarchik/Staff Photo

Mercer Island High School cheerleaders and Sparkle Squad members dazzled spectators during the 2015 Homecoming parade Friday, Oct. 2. See page 6 for more photos, or visit www.mi-reporter.com.

STARTING AT $39/YEAR

The city Planning and Design Commissions will meet from 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 7, at City Hall to work together on the Town Center code revision. There will also be a public hearing, so residents can share their perspectives directly with the Joint Commission members.

Subscribe online at www.Mi-Reporter.com or please call 1-888-838-3000

Town Center ‘handoff’ meeting is tonight

Town Center visioning was the topic of the day at the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon on Oct. 1, as City Council candidates spoke about their visions for downtown Mercer Island. Jeff Sanderson, whose opponent for Position No. 4 dropped out early in the race, sandwiched his speech between the eight candidates running for contested seats. He said he was the “center guy” because of his centrist outlook, and that he’s also the “Town Center guy,” having opened and closed a business in Mercer Island. The logo for the business, Stopsky’s Delicatessen, inspired his campaign signs.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

MI | THIS WEEK

Serving Since1947 1947 Servingthe theMercer MercerIsland Island Community community since

RAIL | PAGE 2

2448 76th Ave SE, Suite 107 - Mercer Island

(206) 275-2700


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.