Mercer Island’s initial Climate Action Plan (CAP) has finally come to fruition.
After 16-18 months of robust development, meetings, community surveys and more, the city council formally approved the final version of the CAP at its April 4 regular meeting.
City documents note that the 54-page CAP focuses on 59 specific near-term and long-term climate actions, including strategies related to infrastructure, resource conservation/sustainable development, electric vehicle (EV) adoption and more, as the Reporter previously noted. A “wedge analysis” snapshot displayed at a city council meeting last November indicated that the Island’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets (with a percentage established from a 2007 baseline) are set on 50% for 2030 and 95% for 2050.
Ross Freeman, Mercer Island sustainability program analyst and CAP project manager, said it’s a massive achievement for the council to adopt the CAP.
“The feedback we received through public comment, surveys, workshops, events and during our nine council meetings really helped inform numerous edits and improvements, and gave council a lot to deliberate,” he said.
Early-action programs already in motion include the Mercer Island Climate Challenge, the Energy Smart Eastside heat pump installation campaign and expanded recycling collection events. Also on the CAP docket is locating grant funding for future projects.
“We’re also looking at planning with other cities for an expanded public EV charging network, and exploring another bikeshare pilot for Mercer Island,” he said.
Results from one of the mailed and online surveys, revealed by Freeman and members of the Cascadia Consultant Group during a 2022 city council meeting study session, showed that some of the most supported strategies included increased recycling, compost and reuse of goods and materials; promotion of water efficient landscaping and irrigation; support and promotion of local retail; and encouragement of residential solar for appropriate sites.
Also on the community support front, Islander Chris Goelz chipped in with a letter to the editor of the Reporter in February regarding the CAP, which reads, in part: “I think climate is the defining issue of our day and affluent communities like ours bear much of the responsibility for where we are on climate. We need to do our part in addressing the problem.”
According to Freeman, city council approved an original CAP budget of $120,000 in November of 2021. Later, staff requested $27,000 be added to the consulting budget for significant extra hours spent mailing a public opinion survey and discussing the suite of proposed GHG actions.
Jason Kintner, Public Works chief of operations, leads things off in the CAP introduction by explaining that sustainability and stewardship are crucial aspects of the city’s longtime proactive commitment to enhance and protect the natural environment and preserve the quality of life for all residents.
Community members will play a key role in the CAP’s success, and he added: “We look forward to collaborating with you — every member of the Mercer Island community — to bring this plan to life over the next few years.”
For more information and to peruse the final version of the CAP, visit www.mercerisland.gov/CAP
