REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2016 WEDNESDAY, MARCH6,20, 2013| |75¢ 75¢
Shots fired in Town Center
Braving the plunge
Westbound I-90 to close this weekend Starting at 11 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, westbound traffic will be funneled from Bellevue to the center express lanes for construction. The detour will end by 5 a.m., Monday, Jan. 11. All westbound drivers wishing to exit onto Mercer Island must use East Mercer Way, but will have the option to continue through the interchange back onto the right lane of I-90, in order to exit at Island Crest Way. See www.wsdot.wa.gov for more. There are up to 19 more weekend directional closures of I-90 planned between now and mid-2017.
Suspect transported to Harborview after shooting tree near S.E. 32nd Street By Katie Metzger
kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
Town Center vision meeting is tonight The Joint Planning-Design Commission will meet from 6-9 p.m. tonight, Jan. 6, at City Hall. No public comment period will be offered.
Happy New Year! e e ltoifthink a great e thtime av HIt’s about establishing or t! u wa nyour yre-evaluating ofinancial plan.
Education funding will be main focus heading into short session By Katie Metzger
kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
The 2015 legislative session was the longest in Washington state history when it adjourned on July 10. The Legislature heads into its next round, a continuation of the 64th session, on Jan. 11, and the Mercer Island City Council was set to vote Jan. 4 to communicate its priorities for consideration. The Legislature works within the framework of a two-year cycle. A “long” session was held in 2015 (105 days, plus extensions) and a “short” session (60 days) is sched-
uled for this year. It should end on March 10, barring additional special sessions that can be called by the governor and last no more than 30 days. All three of the 41st district legislators - Rep. Judy Clibborn, Rep. Tana Senn and Sen. Steve Litzow - live on Mercer Island. Clibborn and Litzow were instrumental in passing a transportation package last session that funded SR 520 and other projects with a gas tax increase, while Senn and Litzow worked on bills to support socialemotional and early learning. Among Mercer Island’s priorities are “set a statewide price on carbon pollution,” “support the adoption of a statewide transportation program that includes local and regional transit service fund-
Registered Investment Advisors Financial Planners and Advisors Registered Investment Advisors
SHOTS | PAGE 6
REPORTER
City sets 2016 legislative priorities
ing (without I-90 tolling),” “support recreational immunity bill clarifying that recreational properties may support other lawful purposes” and “support state funding for counselors in each school to help address mental health and social emotional learning.” Some items are taken from lists compiled by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), the King County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Legislative Forum, the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) and A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH). At its last meeting on Dec. 7, the Council asked for clarification on a few of the items, including a vague directive to “strengthen the Public Records Act in response to changing technology and burdensome requests.” Most members agreed that their priority should be to work with the school district on fulfilling the obligation to fully fund basic education. A few different proposals were floated in the
Mercer Island
Joe Livarchik/Staff Photo
Islander Lena Harder does her best to endure the 45-degree water during the 48th annual Polar Bear Plunge Friday, Jan. 1 at Clarke Beach. See page 7 for more photos, or visit www.mi-reporter.com.
STARTING AT $39/YEAR
The city is offering free holiday tree-chipping service for MI residents. Drop off undecorated trees through Monday, Jan.11 at the maintenance shop (9601 S.E. 36th Street, behind City Hall) during daylight hours. As an alternative, all residents with curbside yard waste service may put out their tree on their regular collection day. Trees must be undecorated, cut to 4-foot lengths, and tied into bundles less than 2 feet by 3 feet with biodegradable string or twine. The Mercer Island Boys Lacrosse Club will also come to your curb, pick up your tree, haul it away and have it composted. Visit www.mercerislandlacrosse.com to select your pickup date. The last pickup is Jan. 9-10.
Subscribe online at www.Mi-Reporter.com or please call 1-888-838-3000
Holiday tree recycling options
Island police officers detained a 52-year-old Island man at the 7800 block of S.E. 32nd Street at 4:45 a.m. after hearing five presumed gunshots on Dec. 29. They located the man, who was holding a gun, and determined that he was likely experiencing a mental health emergency, which was later confirmed by his wife. Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) officers David Herzog and Tim Derr were refueling while on patrol in Town Center when they heard the shots. Herzog drove a block or two, and saw a man walking down S.E. 32nd Street toward him.
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