The Mercer Island City Council usually holds a planning session each January, but due to robust biennial budget work and setting work plans near the end of 2020, the city decided to postpone that session until April 27.

The virtual session is scheduled to take place from 5-9 p.m. and can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/mercerislandcouncil and on MI-TV Channel 21.

City Manager Jessi Bon said during her report at the March 2 council meeting that some citizens wondered about the status of the work session. With the new date now on the docket, council and staff will review their two-year work plan during the session.

“The timing of this is good because we will have the 2020 year-end report available to us in April,” said Bon, adding that they’ll examine the city’s finances, set the council agenda for high-priority items and check the progress of the work plan.

Bon noted that the work plan is embedded in the biennial budget at www.mercerisland.gov/21-22Budget and by selecting section D: Operating Budget by Department.

* Within the work plan, the city council will focus on environmental sustainability, communicating a vision for effective and efficient city services, developing a plan for fiscal sustainability, providing emergency response services related to the pandemic and more.

* In the city manager’s office’s domain, Bon and her staff have copious tasks on their docket, some of which are working with council to evaluate options for the Luther Burbank Park maintenance and operations levy that ends in 2023; continuing to support work on the Thrift Shop operations recovery plan and overseeing the Thrift Shop and Recycling Center Remodel Project; and continuing to oversee the city’s emergency response to the pandemic, including ensuring that departments have the supplies and resources needed to meet safety and operational requirements.

At its Feb. 2 meeting, all seven councilmembers voted to suspend the city’s Thrift Shop and Recycling Center Project. A restart plan will include identifying a short-term solution for successful and sustainable Thrift Shop donation processing during the pandemic.

* Part of Community Planning and Development’s goals are assisting the Public Works/Operations Department with the Town Center Parking Study and coordinating with King County jurisdictions on regional growth planning and more.

* Over at Administrative Services, they have an approved budget proposal of conducting a biennial public opinion survey regarding city services that didn’t take place last year due to the pandemic. Two goals of their work plan are creating a master fee schedule for city council adoption, which includes continuing professional development planning and permitting, impact, licensing and parks fees by the fourth quarter of this year; and assisting in updating citywide policies regarding finances, purchasing, utility billing policies, fleet and others.

* The Bio Park-led city attorney’s office will focus on supporting comprehensive efforts relating to the future of the bus/rail interchange along North Mercer Way at the East Link Station (scheduled to launch in 2023); defending the 2017 Settlement Agreement with Sound Transit to ensure modifications to North Mercer Way near the station do not adversely impact traffic patterns or public safety and more.

After Sound Transit submitted a Right-of-Way Use Permit Application on Oct. 23, 2020 that the city said violated the terms of the Settlement Agreement, council held a special morning meeting three days later and voted 7-0 to authorize Bon to file a lawsuit against the Seattle-based agency.

* On the fire department front, they will continue to participate in cardiac survival studies through King County Emergency Medical Services. In the light-rail station realm, the department will work with Sound Transit on design, plan review and installation of fire suppression systems.

Starting on Jan. 29 with the departure of chief Steve Heitman, the city began contracting with Eastside Fire & Rescue to provide interim fire chief services to the city.

* The police department plans to hire two additional patrol officers next year and assign them to the light-rail station during all shifts starting with the opening in 2023. In ongoing work, the department will collaborate with Sound Transit, King County Metro and other agencies to ensure safe design and implementation of the light-rail station and bus intercept. They will also restore the Citizens Academy, Community Emergency Response Team and National Night Out.

* In Public Works/Operations, they will research and implement 2021-2022 initiatives to potentially include a community solar campaign and green power for city facilities; enhanced food waste and recycling options inside the city and within the community and more. They also plan to promote clean water and stormwater management initiatives in the community.

* The Recreation Transition Team will work with the city manager’s office to develop a transition plan to reopen the Mercer Island Community and Event Center and restore recreation programs and services.

* In the Youth and Family Services division, staff will also continue work on the Thrift Shop operations recovery plan and prepare budget proposals for city council review and consideration. Also on tap is drafting a five-year plan for organizational diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in coordination with city-wide efforts by the second quarter of 2022.