2015 will be remembered in Washington for many reasons. The Seahawks came close to winning a second straight Super Bowl. A summer drought caused wildfires all over the state. The November general election engaged citizens in many different issues. Mercer Island’s new elementary school broke ground and the south-end fire station opened.
Density and development dominated news coverage in 2015; not only in Mercer Island, but also the greater Seattle and Puget Sound area. With expected growth of one million people over the next 25 years, the Island is preparing now by adding housing, planning for light rail and promoting sustainability. But there was a pushback, as the City Council contemplated not one, but two building moratoriums and enacted new impact fees.
January
Texas developer Hines acquires three parcels of land south of McDonald’s and changes its design in the midst of the city’s Town Center visioning process, prompting concern in the community about growth, density and the effects on schools and traffic.
The grassroots group Save Our Suburbs forms and hosts its first meeting.
Eleven Islanders apply for the vacancy on City Council left by Tana Senn, including Joel Wachs, Terry Pottmeyer and Wendy Weiker. Wachs is appointed.
The 2015 legislative session begins, with Mercer Island’s top priority listed as finding a way to fund a transportation package without tolling I-90.
The city begins exchanging letters with Sound Transit on potential mitigation measures, including dedicated commuter parking, for the loss of mobility after the I-90 center HOV lanes are converted for light rail.
The new director of the King County Library System starts work, promising to focus on the Island’s contentious library remodel project.
The Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) releases designs showing how the facility could be integrated with nearby Mercerdale Park.
Mercer Island High School graduates and founders of Homegrown sandwich shops open a location on the north end, in the old Stopsky’s spot.
Photo credit: Erin Sirianni, mymercerisland.net
February
The Seahawks make it to a second straight Super Bowl, but lose to the Patriots 28-24 after a goal line interception.
The Mercer Island City Council imposes a four-month moratorium on downtown development, but decides to exempt the controversial Hines building.
The police department’s new crime prevention program, Paws on Patrol, starts up.
Clarke & Clarke art gallery opens in the former Tatters location.
The annual Giving from the Heart breakfast supporting the Youth and Family Services Foundation raises $150,000.
Anticipating the opening of the new elementary school, the boundary committee gets ready to present recommendations despite some concerns from parents. The principal for Elementary No. 4 is named.
Mercer Island Pediatrics celebrates 60 years on the Island.
Twenty five students visit Mercer Island’s sister city in Thonon-les-Bains, France.
March
The city forms a Town Center stakeholder group to hear residents’ perspectives on key issues like parking and building heights.
The Rotary raises $85,000 for colon cancer research with its annual half marathon.
The City Council looks into imposing impact fees on new developments to pay for school improvements related to growth in the district.
Islander developer JayMarc opens its Modern Collection on First Hill.
Legislators Steve Litzow, Judy Clibborn and Tana Senn, all from Mercer Island, host a Town Hall in Bellevue where they hear from many teachers about the need to fully fund education, fulfill the McCleary obligations and reduce class sizes.
Work on Elementary No. 4 officially begins as a groundbreaking ceremony is held.
April
School Board member Janet Frohnmayer steps down and is eventually replaced by Ralph Jorgenson after an appointment process.
Islanders intending to run for City Council and School Board in the fall begin to announce their candidacies, while a contentious political climate is building.
City attorney Katie Knight announces her retirement.
Litzow’s Early Start Act passes the Senate and Clibborn paves a path toward passing a transportation package based on a gas tax increase.
First Hill neighbors are upset at a proposal to tear down a Ralph Anderson house and subdivide the land.
Renaissance man and 1990 Citizen of the Year Phil Flash dies at 96.
The late start committee finds that an 8:30 a.m. start promotes healthy learning for high school students, prompting a discussion about schedule changes.
May
The City Council unanimously rejects Sound Transit’s bus intercept proposal – which would locate a turnaround on Mercer Island to eliminate redundant service across the I-90 bridge once light rail is operational – citing objections to the scale and environmental impacts of the facility.
Hines unveils building plans that do not include space for a promised upscale grocery store.
Wachs resigns from Council for health reasons, and the runner-up of the appointment process, Terry Pottmeyer, is selected to serve the remainder of the term.
Eleven Islanders officially sign up to run for five open seats on City Council in the November general election. Five say they will run for the three seats open on the School Board.
The SJCC holds its annual truck day for kids in its early childhood school.
Mercer Island decides to delay its Comprehensive Plan update until the completion of other planning processes, including the Town Center code revision.
The Schools Foundation Breakfast of Champions raises $410,000.
Mercer Island teachers, along with many other educators in the area, walk out to enforce the need for education funding.
June
The city’s Design Commission rejects plans for the Hines project, saying that it is too large and out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood.
The Council puts the project in its commercial development moratorium after questions about the retail and parking arise.
A new commuter shuttle begins peak hour service from mid-Island to Seattle and back, hoping to restore some of the routes cut by Metro in 2014.
Albertsons announces that its Island store will close, sending organic market and co-op supporters into a frenzy. A “Bring PCC to Mercer Island” Facebook group forms, and later changes to “Co-Opportunity.”
The Farmers Market kicks off its eighth season, bringing local vendors to the Island every Sunday.
The State Legislature goes into a second special session to figure out the budget, namely, school funding.
Shorewood Apartments applies to build new units, prompting parking concerns from residents and neighbors.
Firefighters move into their new station on the south-end of the Island after months of delay and problems with the contractor hired for the project and the warranty on the roof.
The Island’s new elementary school is named ‘Northwood.’
July
Hines decides to pull the plug on its Town Center project, leaving questions about how Islanders can get the retail and parking they want without more density.
A drought causes the Council to debate imposing a ban on fireworks. Mercer Island is one of the few cities in the area to allow them.
Islanders raise concerns about giving public park land to MICA, and suggest the Hines parcels as an alternative site.
The new south-end fire station opens to the public and the city hosts a dedication ceremony.
MICA announces that the Island will host two “Pianos in the Parks.” An Islander wins Seattle’s Pianos in the Park contest after filming himself playing an original composition on the instruments in Mercerdale and Luther Burbank.
Portland grocer New Seasons announces it will take over Albertsons site, and open in 2016.
After the publication of a New Yorker article on earthquakes and the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the city says residents should be prepared for “the really big one.”
The city launches a “Lock it or Lose it” campaign to prevent residential burglaries.
Roger and Nancy Page, owners of Island Books, are chosen as the 2014 “Citizens of the Year.’” They later announce that they are selling the shop to Islander Laurie Raisys.
August
Sound Transit undertakes a ‘listening tour’ on Mercer Island after urging by public officials to pause the planning on the bus intercept, new HOV lanes and other transit-related topics until Islanders’ concerns are heard.
Debbie Bertlin and Tracy Drinkwater lead the primary election for contested seats on the City Council and School Board, respectively.
The 2015 wildfire season is the largest in Washington state history, with a state of emergency declared in the wake of the Okanogan complex and Chelan complex fires.
Record-breaking heat prompts the parks department to activate water conservation measures.
A new group called the Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Parks, with many of the same members and strategies as 2014’s library group, forms to oppose the MICA plans to build in Mercerdale Park.
The Island’s emergency management response is tested with an ‘active shooter’ drill.
Seafair celebrations return to the Island, with many flocking to the lake, I-90 bridge and Island beaches to watch the Blue Angels.
Peggy Pomeroy, 85, leads a group of Island swimmers across Lake Washington.
The new addition at the high school, with more classrooms and labs, is unveiled.
September
Mercer Island receives a national award for Let’s Move, Michelle Obama’s healthy lifestyle initiative.
Art UnCorked returns to Town Center, bringing artists, winemakers and residents together for a second year.
Sound Transit says permit parking will be considered at the Island Park and Ride, one of the busiest in the area.
The Town Center ‘interim report’ is released to community, and work is handed from the stakeholders and consultants to a Joint Planning-Design Commission.
A new community group called Vision Mercer Island forms to educate the community on transportation issues and advocate for solutions.
The city pays $100,000 for Sound Transit consultants to keep the negotiations moving forward.
Tolling begins in the I-405 HOT lanes.
After hearing that the school district had implemented a “hands off” policy at recess, interpreted as a ban on the popular game of tag, Island parents sound off on social media. The issue attracts local, national and even international media attention.
October
After years of research and work, the vision of a few Islanders is realized when a new Ski and Snowboard museum opens at Snoqualmie Pass.
The judge in the well-publicized Susan Camicia case involving a 2007 bike accident on the I-90 trail finds that the city withheld and destroyed records. Mercer Island later settles with Camicia for about $7 million.
The election season heats up with voter’s forums, fundraising and sign waving.
November
The general election results come in. Over 50 percent of Islanders vote as Mayor Bruce Bassett and Debbier Bertlin are re-elected. Wendy Weiker, Dave Wisenteiner and Jeff Sanderson win Council seats and Tracy Drinkwater, David D’Souza and Ralph Jorgenson are picked to serve on the School Board.
JayMarc saves the historic ‘Symphony House’ on West Mercer Way.
Island students hold a candlelight vigil for victims of terrorism in Paris and Beirut as the national conversation on gun violence and accepting refugees intensifies.
The school district says it may lengthen the school day for a Spanish program.
The Council considers a residential moratorium to prevent short platting and preserve neighborhood character, prompting cheers from residents, especially in the First Hill neighborhood, and jeers from realtors and developers.
The renewed Town Center moratorium delays a planned Hotel Mercer project, though other developments like Pagliacci Pizza remain on track after the Council decides to change its walk-off parking code.
After year of discussion, the Council decides to adopt impact fees for schools and parks, and fees for transportation remain in discussion.
December
The Island hosts its annual holiday traditions, including the Firehouse Munch and Mercerdale tree lighting.
Noel Treat announces that he will leave Mercer Island after two years as city manager to take a job at Seattle Public Schools.The Council discusses hiring an interim manager to bring in the new year.
Transitions begin on the City Council and School Board as longtime members step down and new ones are sworn in.
The Council decides not to adopt a residential moratorium and says that neighborhood zoning is still on the work plan for 2016.
Property taxes will rise one percent next year as the city contemplates levy lid lift to address looming deficits in General Fund and Youth and Family Services Fund. The new Council faces tough decisions regarding school counselors, Sound Transit and buses/parking, Town Center visioning and MICA, among others.
