Special to the Reporter

As part of the process to develop the city’s first-ever Climate Action Plan (CAP), the draft plan is published and available for community review and feedback from now until Feb. 7. On that date, a CAP public hearing will be held during that evening’s regular hybrid city council meeting starting at 5 p.m.

Over the past 14 months, city staff has identified the priorities, challenges and opportunities residents see in the fight against climate change through online and mailed surveys, community workshops and wide-ranging public feedback. This input helped the project team and city council develop a suite of goals, targets and actions that demonstrate its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“It’s really a great achievement to reach this milestone and we’re hoping for lots of public feedback over the next four weeks,” said Ross Freeman, CAP project manager. “Once the CAP is adopted this spring, we’re eager to collaborate with the entire community on some early action items that will strategically reduce carbon footprints.”

The draft CAP sets Mercer Island on a realistic and defined path to transition to clean energy sources, electrify transportation, enhance stormwater and tree planting programs, reduce waste and strengthen its climate change preparations.

For more information, visit https://letstalk.mercergov.org/climate-action-plan and https://tinyurl.com/47jpzfpb.