Utility tax increase begins July 1
On May 1, the Mercer Island City Council adopted an ordinance that temporarily increases the utility tax on water, sewer and storm water from 5.3 percent to 8 percent.
The additional tax was put in place to generate $700,000 for the Interstate 90 litigation and related costs over and above the $1 million budgeted, and will be in effect from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2018. The impact to an average single-family home is $78 over the 18-month period. The funds raised will reimburse the city’s “rainy day” fund.
In late May, the council approved a tentative settlement offer of $10.1 million in mitigation payments from Sound Transit, and suspended its legal actions. There are outstanding legal and other related bills, as well as legal work related to the final settlement, that will push the total cost of the loss of mobility efforts from $1.7 million to $2 million. The city will appropriate another $300,000 from remaining one-time funding sources to cover the additional costs.
Council to meet July 5
The City Council will hold a special meeting from 6-9 p.m. on July 5 to continue the first reading of the Residential Development Standards Code Amendments. Comments on the amendments will be heard at the beginning of the meeting, and are also welcome at residential@mercergov.org. Information about the amendments can be found online at www.mercergov.org/residential.
The council took up the issue at its June 19 Meeting, and will continue the work on July 5 and July 17. The new standards will go into effect 30 days after adoption; a new code could be in place as early as Aug. 16.
A few other items may also be on the July 5 consent calendar, including an easement exhange on Southeast 47th Street, the 2017 Summer Celebration fireworks permit approval and a Crown Castle small cell franchise amendment. The agenda will be posted at www.mercergov.org/councilmeetings by 5 p.m. June 29.
The council will not meet on July 3. City offices will be closed July 4.
Two retirements at MIPD
At the end of June 2017, two long-time officers, Commander Leslie Burns and Sergeant Marc Marcroft, will be retiring from the Mercer Island Police Department.
Burns started in 1996 as a patrol officer, and served as a detective and a member of the bike team. She was promoted to sergeant in 2000 and commander in 2006, and has led the Police Services Division for the past 11 years. This division includes: criminal investigation, personnel and training, records, evidence and emergency management.
Burns was instrumental in the MIPD’s transition to the Eastside’s regional dispatch system (NORCOM), has been very involved with policy development, and has served as one of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chief’s Accreditation Commissioners. Accreditation certifies that police agencies are operating under industry best practices and standards; MIPD has been an accredited agency since 1993.
She was also MIPD’s long-time public information officer and led the department’s social media outreach. In 2017, she was awarded the MIPD Distinguished Service Medal for exhibiting unusual thoroughness, conscientiousness, determination and initiative in the performance of duty.
Marcroft started with MIPD in 1990 and has served as a patrol officer and a detective, later adding roles as a diver and firearms instructor. In 1997, he was assigned as MIPD’s full-time marine patrol officer, and when promoted to sergeant in 2003, assumed leadership of the Marine Patrol Unit.
Marcroft was instrumental in the modernization and professionalization of the Marine Unit, and led the design and acquisition team for two new patrol vessels. Under his leadership, the unit was recognized by the State of Washington as the Marine Law Enforcement Program of the Year. While serving as Detective Sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Section, he was selected as supervisor of the year in 2008 and 2009, and has received numerous awards and citations throughout his career in recognition of outstanding service provided to the citizens of Mercer Island.
