I-90 ramp to Bellevue Way to close Sept. 8-21

Eastbound I-90 ramp to Bellevue Way to be shut down for two weeks beginning Sept. 8

Drivers need to plan ahead for 15-day closure of the eastbound I-90 exit to Bellevue Way

Drivers should be prepared to move left and share the HOV ramp during a 15-day closure of the exit from eastbound Interstate 90 to Bellevue Way. The closure begins Monday, Sept. 8, at 9 p.m. All traffic heading from eastbound I-90 to Bellevue Way will use the HOV ramp during the closure. This work is in preparation for the final stage of WSDOT and Sound Transit’s I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations project, which is adding carpool lanes to both directions of I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue.

Find out about the City Council’s position on I-594

On Tuesday evening, Sept. 2, the Mercer Island City Council held a public hearing regarding Initiative Measure No. 594, concerning background checks for firearm sales and transfers.

The ballot description said, “This measure would apply currently used criminal and public safety background checks by licensed dealers to all firearm sales and transfers, including gun show and online sales, with specific exceptions. Should this measure be enacted into law?”

The discussion and vote took place after Reporter deadline. To find out more, and to listen to the discussion, go to www.mercergov.org and click on the Agendas and Minutes tab on the left hand side of the main page.

City is updating Comprehensive Plan

Mercer Island is updating its Comprehensive Plan, in accordance with the Growth Management Act and other state laws and regional plans.  Because the City’s existing (2005) Comprehensive Plan continues to be largely consistent with ‘Vision 2040,’ multi-county planning policies, and other regional long-range strategies, the scope of the update effort is modest. This 2015 update consists largely of revising data and policies to better reflect current conditions and remain consistent with state requirements and regional plans. All Island residents and other stakeholders are invited to participate in updating process.

The City’s Planning Commission serves as the primary working group and advisory body for the Plan, and will host eight public workshops and hearings before forwarding the plan with recommendations to the City Council. The next meetings are scheduled for tonight, September 3 (land use focus) and September 17 (transportation focus).

For more information on the work done to date, upcoming meetings and how you can participate, go to www.mercergov.org.

Emergency Response Team training

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is designed to prepare you to help yourself and others in the event of a catastrophic disaster.  Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using your CERT training to save lives and protect property.

For more, go to www.mercergov.org and click on Volunteer/CERT on the left.

The classes are free. The sessions are held from 6:30 until 9 p.m., Thursdays starting  Sept. 16, at the City Hall Council Chambers, at 9611 S.E. 36th St.

Worldwide Day of Play is Sept. 20

The Nickelodeon television channel will “go dark” for several hours on September 20 to encourage families to make time for play. The city will host a free “Let’s Just Play” event between 1 and 4 p.m., at Mercerdale Park as a part of being a “Playful City, USA.”

Parking alert for Farmers Market

If you are visiting the Farmers Market on Sunday mornings, Farmers Market organizers and Evergreen Church ask that you park your car in the Farmers New Life Insurance lot on 77th Ave S.E.

Both the Evergreen Church parking area and the Mercer Island Shopping Center lot that serves Rite Aid and other businesses there are privately owned. They are reserved for members and patrons every day of the week.

Do not park there.