FAQs
IFIT-KC
WAC 139-12 determines the scope of the non-law enforcement community representative’s participation. A minimum of two representatives who have credibility with and ties to communities impacted by police use of deadly force will be assigned to IFIT-KC during an activation to:
- Participate directly in the vetting, interviewing, and/or selection of the independent force investigative team (IFIT) investigators.
- Willingness to serve as a community representative, when called upon, after an officer involved shooting.
- Review conflict of interest statements submitted by the investigators within 72 hours of the commencement of each investigation.
- Be present at the briefings with the involved agency chief.
- Have access to the investigation file when it is completed.
- Be provided a copy of all press releases and communication to the media prior to release.
- Review notification of equipment use of the involved agency.
Applicants will participate in an interview with the Chief of Police and Command personnel. Selection of Community Representatives will be made in collaboration with the City Manager’s office. The final list of available community representatives will serve for a term of two-years, with yearly review and extension of assignment by the Chief of Police. This is an unpaid position. Participation on IFIT-KC is a voluntary, and it does not receive a salary, hourly wage or benefits.
Applicants will participate in an interview with the Chief of Police and Command personnel. Selection of Community Representatives will be made in collaboration with the City Manager’s office. The final list of available community representatives will serve for a term of two-years, with yearly review and extension of assignment by the Chief of Police. This is an unpaid position. Participation on IFIT-KC is a voluntary, and it does not receive a salary, hourly wage or benefits.
Selection Timeline
- Application Period: March 9 – April 2, 2021
- Applications Reviewed: April 5 – 9, 2021
- Virtual Interviews: April 12 – 16, 2021
- Selection and Candidate Notifications: April 19 – 23, 2021
Living with Wildlife
Contact PAWS Wildlife Center right away at 425-412-4040. PAWS operates an emergency hospital and specialized recovery facilities designed to rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, restore them to full health, and return them as functioning members of their wild population.
All other wildlife issues and concerns are handled by the wildlife experts at the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Residents can contact the WDFW at 360-902-2515 or via e-mail at wildthing@dfw.wa.gov.
Residents are responsible for removing deceased wildlife from their property. Individual dead animals weighing less than 15 pounds can be placed in the household garbage.
According to King County, animals weighing more than 15 pounds (or large numbers of dead animals) should be taken to a rendering plant, veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or pet cemetery, or buried on the owner's property. If none of these methods are available, dead animals will be accepted at the Cedar Hills Landfill when accompanied by an approved Waste Clearance Decision Form.
Click here for information on what to do if deceased wildlife are on City owned property.
If you find deceased wildlife in a City park, on City property, or in the right of way (ROW) - including the street, median, or sidewalk - contact the Customer Service Team at 206-275-7600. They will issue a service ticket, and our maintenance crews will dispatch to the location to remove the deceased wildlife.
Click here for information on what to do with deceased wildlife on your property.
municipal court
The King County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service and provides information on community legal services.
If you wish to pay your fine without a hearing, payment may be made in the following ways within 15 days of issue of the citation/ticket:
- At the court with cash, check or money order.
- By phone to NCourt at 1.844.279.6287 with a credit card (see below for more info).
- Online at www.micourtpay.com with a credit card (see below for more info).
Important information about paying your fine with NCourt:
- You must have your citation/ticket number in order to process payment.
- You must have the fine amount owing.
- If it is a parking ticket, you must provide the license plate number.
- A convenience fee will be automatically calculated and charged for the use of this service.
Request a hearing or pay the fine within 15 days.
You must contact the court 24 business hours before the scheduled court date to determine if you are eligible to reschedule.
No. The name and address of the court of jurisdiction is printed in the lower left corner of the citation. Your citation must be handled at that court only.
Within 15 days of the violation, you may come to the court to show proof that you were insured at the time of the incident, and the ticket will be dismissed with a $25.00 administrative fee.
If there is an additional violation on the ticket, you are responsible for the penalty amount associated with that violation.
Within 15 days from the violation date or before your scheduled court date, you may show proof of obtaining insurance after the incident, and the ticket will be found committed, the penalty will be reduced to $250.00.
If there is an additional violation on the ticket, you are responsible for the penalty amount associated with that violation in addition to the insurance portion.
The court did not receive your hearing request within 15 days, or did not receive your hearing request at all.
The court records indicate payment has not been received or your payment was untimely, and a late penalty is still owing. If you feel the records are in error, you must present proof to the court payment was received timely.
No. Within 15 days from the violation, you may show proof of your valid placard and disability card to the court and the ticket will be dismissed.
Penalties for school or construction zones may not be reduced/mitigated. You may either pay in full or request a contested hearing within 15 days from the date of violation.
No, both violations must be handled at the same time. You must pay the full amount of the citation or request a hearing within 15 days.
Divorce and civil lawsuits should be filed at the King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.
Small claims matters are filed in District Court.
parking
The Tully’s property purchase will use a portion of the ST Settlement funds which are restricted to parking use only and cannot be used for other City budget needs.
Due to the unique public-private partnerships proposed, both commuter parking sites will deliver parking facilities for Mercer Island for the least possible cost by leveraging the City’s current and proposed land assets. For the Tully’s site, the City’s actual contribution, if any, for parking facilities is not yet known and will be further defined over the next six months as the City evaluates the property during its Due Diligence period. In the case of the Freshy’s site, the developer has agreed to provide between 65 to 70 public parking spaces to the City during commuting hours in exchange for the City’s sale of Parcel 7. This arrangement leverages the value of the land, thereby alleviating the financial burden on taxpayers.
At the former Tully's Coffee site: The City plans to purchase the former Tully’s property located at 7810 SE 27th Street from Parkway Management Group, for a purchase price of $2 million, using a portion of the Sound Transit Settlement funds. The parcel could then be combined with adjacent property (Parcel 12) that the City already owns at Sunset Highway, and which could serve as a match for the ST funds in keeping with the ST Settlement Agreement. The City plans to construct over a 100 underground parking spaces. The City anticipates creating a public-private partnership with a developer to bring in the expertise and necessary funding to complete the project.
At the Freshy’s site: The City is selling a small parcel (Parcel 7) at the southwest corner of SE 24th Street and 76th Avenue SE in Town Center, for an estimated $2.3 million to Twenty Four Eleven LLC (Twenty Four Eleven). WSDOT deeded the triangular parcel to the City in 2000 for limited, specific uses, and will be the ultimate recipient of sale proceeds under the terms of the deed. The triangular property is adjacent to land owned by the buyer, where Freshy’s Seafood Shack operates today. Twenty Four Eleven plans to build a mixed use project on the combined properties, to include 65-70 underground parking stalls for transit commuters that will be dedicated to the City of Mercer Island’s perpetual use between the hours of 5:30 am and 7:30 pm, Monday thru Friday.
There will be ongoing maintenance costs for the new commuter parking facility, and the City will need to share the maintenance cost with users. The City plans to research and develop an operational plan and pricing models before the parking facility is operational. Likewise, a “reservation” model could provide guaranteed parking, which does not currently exist at the Mercer Island Park and Ride.
The City plans to design a welcoming pedestrian flow from Town Center to the light rail station. The community’s input on the design will be critical.
The Tully’s site combined with a small parcel adjacent to the site (City Parcel 12) could be assembled to create a mix-used project. As a consideration, if the adjacent parcel is rezoned to match the Tully’s zone – Town Center (TC) – the City could leverage private investment and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. The Council will be considering this during the due diligence period.
Environmental contamination at the Tully’s site, caused by a gas station that once operated there, will be cleaned up. The City and Parkway Mgmt Group are negotiating to seek reimbursement for the site cleanup from outside entities, including from the previous owners responsible for the contamination.
Under the City’s Town Center Development and Design Standards, a new project at either location must provide a variety of public amenities.
A Due diligence period allows a buyer to fully investigate property prior to closing (or finalizing the acquisition) to ensure that it is suitable for the buyer’s desired development or use. Due diligence periods allow a buyer to withdraw from a purchase and sale agreement if something is discovered about the property that does not meet expectations. In the case of the City purchasing the former Tully’s site, the City will have six months to investigate and evaluate the property in detail before making a final decision to purchase the property and proceed to closing. This is similar to a home inspection when purchasing a new home.
Any trees that are removed, even on City-owned land, must be replaced according to the updated rules in the City's tree code. In addition, a minimum of 25% of each site must be landscaped.
Discussions are underway between the land developer and the owner of Freshy’s about a suitable space in the new proposed building.
The City Council and the community value the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Garden and the City will preserve and enhance it with better connectivity to the new transit station, thereby creating a welcoming entry to the Town Center. The details of how any proposed project relates to the sculpture garden will be developed in consultation with the Mercer Island Arts Council.
Parking spaces on both properties are expected to be available by 2023, in time for the scheduled opening of the East Link light rail service on Mercer Island.
The City Council will review purchase and sale agreements (PSA) for the two property transactions at its May 15, 2018 meeting, followed by a period of community input. The final purchase and sale agreements are scheduled for City Council action on June 5, 2018. If they are approved, then an extensive due diligence period will follow, and closing would occur by late 2018 or early 2019. The Council welcomes the community’s input on these two proposed PSAs.
WSDOT deeded the triangular parcel to the City in 2000 for limited, specific uses, and WSDOT will be the ultimate recipient of sale proceeds under the terms of the deed. The City will receive compensation in the form of dedicated commuter parking provided by the developer: at today’s construction costs of $85,000 per underground parking stall, this is valued at approximately $6M.
The lack of available parking at the MI Park & Ride is a growing problem for Island residents. The facility is generally full by 7:00am on weekdays and about half of all Park & Ride parking spaces are used by non-Islanders. Island residents have consistently asked for additional parking, and the demand is expected to grow when light rail opens and increased numbers of residents seek to use predictable train transit.
Absolutely. The Council is pleased to help develop a project that meets demands for more commuter parking and that also “creates a vibrant, healthy Town Center serving the City’s business, social, cultural and entertainment center” (Town Center Plan). Citizen input will be welcomed and critical to ensuring a successful project.
The City is exploring a tiered pricing scheme, similar to what it uses for its Parks and Recreation programs, or a comparable mechanism, to ensure Island residents have preferential access to the new parking spaces.
parking enforcement
RCW 46.61.570 - Illegal parking (anything signed or on sidewalk, double parking, within an intersection, in front of or within 5ft of any driveway, within 15ft of fire hydrant, within 20ft crosswalk (all intersections are crosswalks whether marked or unmarked), within 30ft stop/yield sign, within 20ft fire station [unless posted 75ft]).
RCW 46.61.575 - Improper parking (facing the opposite direction of traffic, wheels not within 12inches of curb).
MIC 10.36.225 - Parking in excess of 72 hours: “No person shall park any vehicle upon any city street or highway, or the right-of-way portion thereof, for a continuous period in excess of 72 hours.”
MIC 10.14.020 - Parked vehicles to display current license plates “No vehicle shall be parked upon any city street or way open to the public without displaying current vehicle license plates.”
MIC 10.36.226 - Parking not to obstruct traffic “No person shall park any vehicle upon a city street in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available for free movement of vehicular traffic less than eight feet of width required from the centerline of a two lane roadway or eight feet in width measured from the lane divider of a four lane roadway.”
MIC 10.36.227 - Parking in alleys and private roads “No person shall park a vehicle within an alley or private road in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than eight feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic.” or “No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within an alley or private road in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property.”
MIC 10.36.228 - Parking for certain purposes unlawful “No person shall park any vehicle upon any highway for the principal purpose of: Displaying advertising, Displaying such vehicle for sale, or Selling Merchandise from such vehicle, except when authorized”
MIC 10.36.240 - Park along planting strip “No vehicle shall be operated on or along a planting strip area or landscaped area, except where a vehicular way has been constructed and provided for within such planting strip area or landscaped area.”
MIC 10.36.229 - Parking of oversized vehicles - Unlawful “It is unlawful for any person to park or store an oversized vehicle on a city street, highway, or the right-of-way portion thereof.” “For the purposes of this section, "oversized vehicle" means any vehicle over 22 feet in length or over nine feet in height. Two or more vehicles which are attached to one another, such as a trailer attached to a motor vehicle, shall be considered one vehicle for the purpose of this definition.”)
MIC 10.74.030 - Permit parking violation (North Mercer Resident permit)
MIC 9.30.230 - Mercer Island Boat Launch - Failure to pay the parking fee (daily, monthly, or yearly fee), parking a single vehicle in a trailer only space, parking an unattached trailer, parking overnight.
For permits and questions, please contact the appropriate department:
RCW 46.19.050.2 - Unauthorized use of placard/plate (person the placard or plates issued to is not present and vehicle is using ADA space).
RCW 46.19.050.3 - Vehicle parked in such a way as to make ADA access area / aisle inaccessible (ADA access area violation - parked on the hash marks).
RCW 46.19.050.4 - Vehicle parked in space marked for individual with disabilities (ex. no placard or plates displayed or placard/plates expired).
plastic
Food banks are exempt and may use any type of bag.
The Mercer Island ordinance allows retailers to provide all (permitted) bags for free, or charge for each bag distributed, or use a hybrid model.
No. Once these bags have been reused a couple of dozen times their impact is less than that of the many dozens of single-use plastic bags they’ve replaced. They also carry two to three times as much as typical throwaway plastic bags, which are often doubled for strength by baggers at grocery stores.
Yes, they are treated like restaurants with takeout food. Food prepared on-site such as roasted chicken and soups can be placed in protective plastic bags at the deli counter as needed to prevent leaks or spills.
Yes, under the current guidelines from Republic Services, the City’s waste and recycling hauler, residents may recycle some plastic bags and stretch wrap/shrink film. Bags must be collected in a single clear bag, and tied off. No white or black plastic bags are allowed.
Do not recycle bags marked “biodegradable” or “compostable.” They are made of organic material which contaminates plastic recycling and should go in your Food and Yard Waste cart.
Yes, but only if it involves “prepared take-out foods and prepared liquids” that can leak or be spilled, or might otherwise create public health and safety concerns. Other items sold by restaurants (cookbooks, collectibles, etc.) must not be contained in single-use plastic bags.
No, this does not regulate food containers. However, the City encourages all food vendors to end the use of throw-away 'Styrofoam' (aka expanded polystyrene) containers, and instead use recyclable or compostable substitutes. Click here for information on Seattle's program addressing this issue.
In most cities with ordinances, a reusable bag is expected to last at least 20 uses, but most will last much, much longer. According to some studies (e.g. the 2010 Florida Retail Bags Report) one reusable bag will replace from 56 to 315 disposable single-use bags in a single year.
In other cities with bans, residents generally find substitutes for these uses. Most households will find that they still tend to acquire plenty of plastic bags, or that a reusable bag is suitable (e.g. for transporting lunch). Bags specifically for pet poop are available in grocery stores, and at dispensers in many City Parks.
Yes, the Health Department will appreciate this. Canvas bags can be machine washed (be careful of shrinkage in the dryer). Other bags can be hand washed with hot soapy water, or sanitized occasionally with a dilute bleach solution in a spray bottle.
None of these activities are exempt. The ordinance specifically includes all these activities as “retail establishments” where single-use plastic carryout bags are banned. Vendors at farmers markets may use small bags of any type for vegetables and meat, and then place these in a larger paper carryout bag or a customer’s reusable bag.
There is an exemption in the ordinance that allows these vendors to safeguard public health and safety by providing customers with single-use plastic carryout bags for “prepared take-out foods and prepared liquids” that can leak or be spilled.
The second reading of the Ordinance and final adoption occurred at the regular meeting of the Mercer Island City Council held on December 2, 2013
All retail stores are subject to the new requirements, including grocery stores, department stores, hardware stores, pharmacies, liquor stores, restaurants, convenience stores and other retailers or vendors. Note that takeout food from restaurants is exempt due to public health and safety concerns.
The thicker, stronger plastic bags – those more than 2.25 mils thick – have special uses for which paper is not a good option or not readily available; for example, very large bags for bedding and other bulky household items, or for protecting books and printed materials. These bags are not required to have any recycled content, but are often reusable.
The City is trying to move away from single-use bags entirely. Biodegradable and compostable bags are designed to break down quickly, and are not durable enough to serve as carryout shopping bags. They work well as liners for kitchen food waste containers and Food and Yard Waste carts.
After years of trying, plastic bag recycling isn’t catching on, even in cities like Seattle where its rate of 15 percent is reputed to be the highest in the country. Due to the low value and high contamination, some plastic film recyclers are leaving the business for lack of a market outlet. Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of paper shopping bags are recycled in Seattle.
public records
Please visit the City's public records portal, NextRequest, to make your request.
Requests by mail, phone, fax, email or in person are also accepted, but will be entered into the portal for processing.
Anyone may initiate a request for public records.
Public Records requests may be used to obtain "agency records," which include a wide variety of documents and other materials (including print, photographic, and electronic formats) that were created or obtained by a city agency and are, at the time the request is filed, in the City's possession and control. The Public Records Act excludes certain categories of records from disclosure.
Many public records are currently available on the City’s website at no cost. Examples include the Comprehensive Plan, budget, City Council meetings, Mercer Island City Code, and other reports.
The City has five business days in which to respond to the request by:
- Providing the record(s) or a link to the record(s)
- Acknowledging receipt of the request and providing a reasonable estimate of the time the city will need to respond to the request
- Denying the records request
See RCW 42.56.520 for additional information regarding responses. If a requestor does not receive a response within five days, he or she should contact the Public Records Officer.
Fee schedule - the City charges the following for copies of records:
- There is no fee for inspecting public records.
- Photocopies - per page - $0.15
- Printed copies of electronic records, per page - $0.15
- Scanning paper records, per page - $0.10
- Electronic files or attachments uploaded for electronic delivery (email, cloud‐ based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery), for each four (4) files - $0.05
- Transmission of records in an electronic format or for the use of agency equipment to send the records electronically, per gigabyte (GB) - $0.10
- Any digital storage media or device provided by the agency - Actual Cost
- Postage for mailing shipping container - Actual Cost
- Other media (color, electronic and/or information provided on a disk or CD-ROM) - Actual Cost
For large requests, the City may:
- Require a deposit of up to ten percent of estimated cost
- Provide records in installments
- Require advance payment before providing further installments.
General City Requests
Mary Swan
Paralegal/Public Records Officer
9611 SE 36th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
206-275-7651
206-275-7663 fax
Police Department Requests
Shelby Pattajo
Mercer Island Police Evidence Technician/Public Records Officer
9611 SE 36th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
206-275-7610
206-275-7941 fax
Go to mercerisland.nextrequest.com to file a request.
There is no single index of City records. The City of Mercer Island has determined by formal order that maintaining a central index of City records is unduly burdensome, costly, and would interfere with City operations due to the number and complexity of records generated as a result of the wide range of City activities.
- Oversee compliance with the Public Records Act
- Administer program consistent with the City of Mercer Island Public Records Act Rules of Procedure
- Provide the “fullest assistance” to requestors
- Coordinate response to requests with departments and offices
- Provide most timely possible & efficient action on requests
- Protect public records from damage or disorganization
The Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, provides that a number of document types and information are prohibited from being disclosed or are exempt from public inspection and copying (see WA State Attorney General's exemption list). In addition, there are other statutes not listed in Chapter 42.56 RCW which may exempt or prohibit disclosure of certain documents [see exemption list outside RCW 42.56 (Appendix C to “Public Records Act for Washington Cities, Counties, and Special Purpose Districts,” Municipal Research and Services Center, March 2016, and as amended)].
The City of Mercer Island will not disclose lists of individuals for commercial purposes [RCW 42.56.070(9)].
If only a portion of a record is exempt from disclosure, the Public Records Officer or designee will redact the exempt portions before providing the document.
resident info
Yes, violators of the ordinance can be assessed a monetary penalty of $124.
Yes, the City’s ordinance requires solicitors to obtain a license.
To verify if a charity or fundraiser is registered with the state and to get further information about the organization’s financial and charitable activities, you may contact the Washington Secretary of State Charities Program at 1-800-332-4483, or online at www.sos.wa.gov/charities.
You can post a "No Peddlers" or “No Solicitors” sign that is clearly visible at your home. Solicitors who then approach your door after seeing the sign are violating the ordinance; you can call the Mercer Island Police Department’s non-emergency number at 425-577-5656 or, if necessary, call 911.
Each person is issued a license from the City Clerk’s Office. Solicitors must carry their license at all times when soliciting and must display their license upon request (see second FAQ above). If the solicitor cannot produce a license, you can call the Mercer Island Police Department’s non-emergency number at 425-577-5656.
- If a solicitor comes to your door, ask to see his or her soliciting license and printed materials regarding their organization.
- Contact the beneficiaries of the charitable funds to determine if they are aware of the solicitation and have authorized use of their name.
- Ask how the donations are used.
- Don't give in to high-pressure "hardball" solicitations that demand an instant commitment.
- If the organization is legitimate, it should be willing to give you time to make up your mind. Be wary of solicitors that offer to send a courier to collect your money immediately.
Solicitors are allowed to solicit between the hours of 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM. If someone comes before 10:00 AM or after 9:00 PM, you can call the Mercer Island Police Department’s non-emergency number at 425-577-5656 to report him or her.
Licenses are issued by the City of Mercer Island City Clerk’s Office. Each solicitor must have a license issued by the City Clerk’s Office. The license is the approved application form with a City official’s initials and the official corporate seal of the City of Mercer Island in the bottom right corner.
rideshare
Yes, both vendors allow scheduling at least 7 days in advance
No, these are direct rides only
Both vendors now allow optional tipping via their apps
To get the $2 shared ride fare, you must select the shared ride option from each vendor. Sometimes, your vehicle will stop along the route to collect 1 or 2 other riders. Other times, there may not be another rider with a matching itinerary; in these cases you will still receive the shared fare for being willing to share the vehicle.
The City will evaluate usage and adoption, and determine the need for ongoing program sponsorship
Someone else with a smartphone can arrange your ride
Both vendors currently require passengers to be 18 or older
Search Tips and Tricks
Yes. The website indexes web pages as well as PDFs, Microsoft Office documents, and text documents.
No. By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase. In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.
In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations. The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.
Yes. You can exclude words by using the minus sign (-). In order to find the results of all pages that have alarm in the result but not permit, you would search for alarm -permit.
tip
The City of Mercer Island recognizes and encourages walking and bicycling in the community. In 1996, the City developed a plan which identified specific pedestrian, bicycle, and trail projects. The plan was updated in 2010. Learn more about the Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan here.
Projects included in this 2010 Plan were developed and ranked based on the following performance criteria:
- Connectivity. The plan will provide a network of continuous links connecting employment, retail centers, schools, parks and other primary destinations with the Island's neighborhoods.
- Sustainability. The plan will increase the opportunity for sustainable transportation choices by Island residents by facilitating pedestrian and bicycle movement as an alternative to the automobile.
- Safety. Facilities provided by the plan shall be designed to reduce conflicts between autos, bicyclists and pedestrians, and provide a safe system of facilities for all user groups, especially for children on routes between neighborhoods and schools.
- Routine Accommodation. Street improvements will be designed by identifying the full range of mobility needs to be met by the facility, and then balancing or adjusting these needs with space, financial and other considerations to achieve the best result.
- Arterial corridors are shared-use assets. Automobile, bicycle and pedestrian use must be integrated. These needs should be considered in planning street projects.
- Incremental solutions are preferred. Consideration should be given to the minimal facility or improvement that can balance competing priorities.
- Appropriate facilities balance community values, expected uses, and site. Preserving Mercer Island's woodsy, rural character and neighborhood scale is important.
- The Mercer Ways are a unique and valuable community asset. Trade-offs here are especially complex.
- Maintenance practices, parking and speed control policies (and their enforcement) affect use of these facilities. These issues must be addressed to assure full value is obtained from investments.
The City makes an effort to coordinate the development of new or enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities with utility and street projects. As a result, major pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements are often constructed in conjunction with other projects.
For more information, contact Rebecca O'Sullivan, Transportation Engineer or call 206-275-7655.
Every three years, the City conducts a Pavement Condition Survey to rate the condition of the Island's streets. Survey results help the City prioritize maintenance and capital improvements. Streets are evaluated on criteria such as existing pavement distresses, surface condition, base condition, drainage, pending underground utility needs, and average daily traffic volume. The latest survey was completed during summer 2016 and will be used for rating streets starting the 2018 TIP process.
These rankings are coupled with other planning considerations (such as the water and sewer comprehensive plans and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan), and used to develop the six-year Transportation Improvement Program.
For more information, contact Ian Powell, Street Engineer or call 206-275-7813.
Major funding sources for transportation projects include state Real Estate Excise Taxes, fuel taxes, a Transportation Benefit District, and other transportation taxes and fees. The TIP allocates an average of $3.0 million annually.
For more information, contact Patrick Yamashita, City Engineer or call 206-275-7722.
The City of Mercer Island owns and maintains approximately 54 miles of residential and 26 miles of arterial streets, for a total of 80 miles. Several factors determine resurfacing frequency; the City's streets are evaluated, ranked, and re-prioritized every two to three years. Improvements that correct a safety hazard are prioritized accordingly. Typically,
- Residential streets are resurfaced on a 35-year cycle
- Arterial streets, which carry more traffic, are resurfaced on a 25-year cycle.
For more information, contact Ian Powell, Street Engineer or call 206-275-7813.
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a six-year plan for roadway, pedestrian and bicycle projects. State law requires that the program be updated and adopted annually (before July 1) by elected officials. Program adoption takes place following a public comment period and a public hearing.
For more information, contact Rebecca O'Sullivan, Transportation Engineer or call 206-275-7655.
There are five project categories:
- Residential Street Preservation Program (including residential street overlays and substandard street upgrades)
- Town Center Street Improvements
- Arterial Street Improvements (roadway resurfacing, reinvestment in existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities, and other improvements)
- New Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in accordance with the 2010 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan
- Other Transportation Projects (eg. guardrails, pavement marking replacement, etc.)
For more information, contact Rebecca O'Sullivan, Traffic Engineer or call 206-275-7655.
Utility Billing
For questions regarding water, sewer, and storm bills, rates, and consumption, please contact Utility Billing at 206-275-7602, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm or email mifinance@mercerisland.gov.
If you think your billing is incorrect or suspect that you may have a leak, please call the Utility Billing office at 206-275-7602.
Yes, click here and scroll to the very bottom of the page to view the rate schedule listing the current water, sewer and stormwater rates, fees, and charges.
A due date is printed on each invoice, typically 20 days from the invoice date. The utility bill is considered past due (late) if payment has not been received by the due date shown on the bill. Options for making a payment include payment online, pay by phone at 855-844-0085 or by check in the drop box in the City Hall parking lot.
Mail your payment in the return envelope provided and be sure to include the “Return” portion of the bill and the account number on the check to ensure proper credit to your account. Please pay by check or money order made payable to “City of Mercer Island.”
You can make a payment online , by phone at 855-844-0085, by mail or drop your payment in the large white dropbox in the City Hall parking lot.
Notification from the sellers Escrow company in writing is required to transfer ownership of the property. If Escrow is not withholding funds to pay for all current and final utility charges, the seller is required to notify Utility Billing at 206-275-7602 and provide a forwarding address.
The city is not able to facilitate seller/buyer rent-backs. The exact date of closing is required to accurately and efficiently transfer utility accounts in the case of a property sale.
Yes. This does not relieve the owner of responsibility for payment should the tenant fail to pay the bill. Collection of outstanding charges for vacated tenants is the property owner’s responsibility. All charges are tied to the property. Failure to pay may result in disconnection of service and/or a lien on the property.
Water meters are City of Mercer Island assets. If you turn off the meter on your own and cause damage, you may be held liable for the cost of resulting damages. Contact the City of Mercer Island’s Public Works department at 206-275-7608, if you need your water shut off to do repairs. Alternatively, contact the City of Mercer Island’s Utility Billing department at 206-275- 7602, if you need your HOA irrigation water shut off for seasonal disconnect.