City posts new FAQ for light rail
This week, the city issued the latest round of FAQ (Dec. 28) regarding light rail plans and future vehicle access to Interstate 90, answering some of the most common recent questions that have arisen.
Some of these questions include is the Island Crest Way on-ramp to westbound I-90 closing, is the Island Crest Way off-ramp from eastbound I-90 closing, future access to the Island for school district employees, fire department vehicle access on the floating bridge and station and landscaping concerns for the light rail station.
For the new FAQ, visit www.mercergov.org/Page.asp?NavID=3132.
The city is currently planning the next community open house for late January 2017.
To view related documents, studies, recent editorials and other historic agreements, visit the archive page at www.mercergov.org/Page.asp?NavID=2954.
City offers holiday tree recycling options for residents
The city encourages Island residents to recycle their holiday trees and suggests choosing one of the following options:
Tree chipping: The city’s annual holiday tree chipping service is offered for free through Friday, Jan. 13 for Mercer Island residents only. Undecorated holiday trees can be brought to the City Public Works Shop at 9601 SE 36th St. (behind City Hall) during daylight hours where staff will chip the tree and re-purpose it for use in city parks, trails and open spaces. For safety, leave your tree in the designated location only. When dropping off your holiday tree for chipping:
• Remove tree stands
• Remove all ornaments and lights
• Deliver your tree only during daylight hours
No flocked or artificial trees and no garbage or other yard waste will be accepted.
Tree collection: All curbside yard waste customers can also set holiday trees out on their regularly scheduled collection day. Trees must be free of flocking, tinsel, ornaments and metal hangers, cut to 4-foot lengths, and tied into bundles less than 2 feet by 3 feet. Use biodegradable string or twine to secure bundles instead of nylon, plastic, or other synthetic materials. Flocked trees are not recyclable and will not be accepted; put flocked trees in the garbage.
For more information about holiday tree services, contact the city Public Works Department at 206-275-7608.
Sign up for city’s new emergency alert service, Code Red
The city recently joined a new emergency alerting system in partnership with King County, using a vendor that serves hundreds of other cities nationwide (Code Red).
ALERT King County allows Mercer Island residents to receive important information about major emergencies via telephone, text and email based on their Island address.
Registration is free and confidential. The service will not be used for minor, or brief events, only major emergencies such as: earthquakes, very damaging winter storms, large landslides and boil-water advisories.
If you don’t have a landline telephone any more, it is especially important that you register your cell phone number, or the city has no way of calling/texting you in major emergencies.
The system already includes most landlines, but those users can also register in order to select additional contact options if they wish.
The city also encourages residents to follow its Facebook and Twitter feeds, as those social media outlets are used in both minor and major emergencies to spread important information.
For questions on the new alert system, email Mercer Island police Officer Jennifer Franklin, emergency manager, at jennifer.franklin@mercergov.org.
Are you ready to take winter by storm?
As the storm season gets fully underway this winter, Mercer Island may see more lowland snow events, windstorms, downed trees, heavy rains and even landslides.
The city’s Emergency Preparedness program advises all residents to take standard precautions for winter events, such as:
• Prepare to be without power
• Set aside non-perishable food and water for three days
• Plan for the loss of landline phone service and internet connectivity
• Keep cellphones charged
• Locate flashlights and spare batteries
• Prepare for winter driving
• Know your neighbors and check on the elderly or infirm
When the power goes out, check the online outage map at Puget Sound Energy’s website, or call their outage hotline at 1(888) 225-5773 for more information.
Learn how to assemble your own emergency kit at Take Winter By Storm.
