City to re-evaluate new development impact fees
In discussions regarding recent growth in Mercer Island and the Growth Management Act (GMA) that regulates development and density, the City Council decided to review the way Mercer Island collects SEPA mitigation fees.
They will discuss impact fees — one-time fees to offset the cost of services associated with new development, such as roads, schools, fire facilities and parks — at the Council meeting on March 16.
Many residents have expressed concern about the effect that increased density in the Town Center due to a boom in apartment building projects will have on school enrollment and traffic.
“People have been very clear in their comments to us that new development needs to pay its fair share for infrastructure additions,” Deputy Mayor Dan Grausz wrote in an email update to Islanders.
The GMA requires that cities plan for future growth and provide the facilities necessary for accommodating that growth. Impact fees provide a way for cities and counties to pay for these facilities, according to the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) website.
Mercer Island currently does not charge impact fees, as they are optional for municipalities.
“Mercer Island is mostly built out and an impact fee wouldn’t result in much revenue,” said Development Services Group Director Scott Greenberg. “There is also a cost to administer the program and track collection and expenditure of the fees.”
Groveland dock design underway
The dock replacement at Groveland Beach, which will cost almost $1 million, is in an early design phase that involves deciding whether to replace the structure like-for-like or come up with alternative ideas.
“We provided an update at the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee meeting a couple weeks ago (in late February) regarding a few options … One of those alternative ideas was to use a floating dock instead of a fixed pier for construction,” parks superintendent Jason Kintner said.
It’s a cheaper option that could allow for additional money to be used for something else, like shoreline improvements at the park.
The project will ideally include replacing the elevated dock and removing the concrete bulkhead to restore a more natural shoreline, Kintner told the Reporter in November. The deterioration of the Groveland dock over the past few years has present ed a safety concern.
Construction to replace the dock would occur during over the summer, due to permitting requirements. The city expects work to occur beyond the ordinary high water mark, which triggers the working “fish window,” typically issued between July 16 and Sept. 30 each year.
“We’ve had four design teams submit statement of qualifications (SOQ’s) and completed interviews with all of them,” Kintner said. “We’ve selected a preferred design team for the project and are working through the contract piece at this time.”
Once the design team is under contract and the project schedule is fine-tuned, parks staff will circle back regarding community meetings, input opportunities and other updates, Kintner said.
South-end fire station delayed until April
The opening of Fire Station 92 has been delayed several times. Originally scheduled for a November 2014 completion, it is now not expected to open until “sometime in April,” said city communications and sustainability manager Ross Freeman.
Construction delays have been an ongoing problem since the project broke ground in January 2014, said City Manager Noel Treat.
The city contracted with Miller Hull architects in 2012 for the design, and the Council awarded a $3.5 million bid — the lowest of 14 presented — to Corp Inc., a construction company based out of Salem, Ore., in November 2013.
The Council also approved alternative means of funding the project. In 2012, residents voted on a nine-year levy for the fire station.
The $5.4 million budget of the project includes the station replacement, the purchase of a new fire truck, permitting, design and other related costs.
After months of delay and a possible problem with the roof installation, the city is anticipating a “legal wrangling over delay damages” at the end of March.
“We are looking at damages of around $500,000,” Deputy Mayor Dan Grausz wrote in an update to Islanders. “The Council will be discussing this in executive session at its meeting on March 16.”
Classics on film
The Mercer Island Arts Council’s Classics on Film has turned to comedy.
The free films are presented by the Council and are hosted by Aljoya Retirement Community. Film historian Lance Rhoades is on hand to introduce and discuss the films. The screenings are open to the public and refreshments are provided.
The 1991 film, “City Slickers” will be shown at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 13.
The 1998 film, “The Dinner Game” (“Le dîner de cons”) is set for 7:30 p.m.on March 20.
