Council meetings to be televised this month
In order to telecast its first meeting, the City Council will be asked to approve an operations procedure at its meeting on Monday, July 7. The first televised meeting is expected to take place July 21. The city also plans to begin televising a pilot news program called “Mercer Island View” that same day. The 20-minute news program is expected to run for a couple of months. The Mercer Island government access channel, airing on Comcast channel 21, will also feature static news bulletins about upcoming city and government events. Last March, the Council approved the installation of four cameras in its Chambers at City Hall to broadcast their bimonthly meetings and to produce a video archive on the city’s Web site.
There will be some agenda item changes for the July 7 meeting to accommodate the Council’s direction for a study session regarding the Parks and Recreation ballot measure. The Council will discuss and consider which capital improvement projects should be removed from a stakeholders committee recommendation (See parks bond story on A1).
Development Services director Steve Lancaster was scheduled for a study session to discuss which streets could potentially be re-striped to provide additional parking in the Town Center. That will be rescheduled.
Some fireworks allowed
The city allows Islanders to set off fireworks on the Fourth of July from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. but restricts the type of firework allowed. Only “safe and sane” fireworks, those sold at the state-approved Kiwanis fireworks stand near the North end Rite Aid and Mercerdale Park are legal. The city also prohibits Islanders from discharging fireworks in city parks or district schools.
The Kiwanis Club began selling the permitted and legal fireworks on Saturday and will close on the Friday, the Fourth. Consumer fireworks allowed by the city include sparklers, cones, fountains, ground spinners, helicopters, wheels, small roman candles, small mine shells and smoke devices. Prohibited items include firecrackers, salutes, rockets, chasers and aerial bombs.
In a notice released by the Mercer Island fire marshal, he reminds Islanders to be safe and smart when celebrating the Fourth with fireworks. He suggests keeping a bucket of water nearby to place all used fireworks, a water hose or fire extinguisher to put out stray sparks, and to keep a clear and level area away from things that can burn when igniting the fireworks.
For more information go to www.mercergov.org
Tent City meeting
The United Methodist Church will be hosting a neighborhood public-information meeting next Wednesday, July 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. regarding its decision to host Tent City 4. The church, located at 7070 S.E. 24th St. is inviting its neighbors to attend and meet some Tent City residents and learn more about the camp.
