The Mercer Island City Council will select a new Council member to replace outgoing Councilman Steve Litzow. Litzow, who was elected to the Washington State Legislature in November, will resign from the council effective Dec. 31. The city is taking applications from residents through Dec. 30. A majority vote of the six remaining Councilmembers will select the new member.

The timeline is as follows:

Thursday, December 30, 2010: Applications due to City Clerk by 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 13, 2011: Candidate interviews beginning at 6:00 p.m. (Special Meeting).

Monday, January 18, 2011: Council vote and swearing in of new Councilmember (Regular Meeting).

The term of this position begins once a candidate is appointed by a majority vote of the City Council, and will expire after the results of the general election to be held November 8, 2011 have been certified.

Residents interested in applying must have resided within the City of Mercer Island for one year and must be a registered voter. Interested residents may pick up application forms at City Hall (9611 SE 36th Street) or may have them mailed by contacting City Clerk Ali Spietz at 206.275.7793 or ali.spietz@mercergov.org.

The application for appointment to Mercer Island City Council Position #1 can be found on line at http://www.mercergov.org/News.asp?NewsID=1331or by going to mercergov.org.

The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The seven-member City Council serves as the legislative body of the City. The Council is responsible for setting policy, adopting the annual budget, adopting laws, determining the services to be provided and the funding levels for those services, and appointing citizens to its advisory boards and commissions.