Long-Range Facility Planning/City Hall Closure

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Mercer Island City Hall

Project Overview

In early 2023, the City of Mercer Island began working on Facilities Conditions Assessments to guide future investment decisions for City facilities and the development of a Long-Range Facilities Plan. These assessments include Mercer Island City Hall, the Public Works Building, the Mercer Island Community and Event Center Annex Building, the Luther Burbank Administrative Building, the Mercer Island Thrift Shop building, and the former Tully’s Building. A second phase will include Facility Conditions Assessments for Fire Station 91, Fire Station 92, and the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.

The assessments will be used to prioritize a comprehensive plan to maintain, repair or replace these buildings to ensure City facilities can deliver municipal programs and services for the next 50 years.

City Hall Closure – April 2023

In April 2023, and in the midst of beginning the Facilities Conditions Assessments, staff visually identified broken floor tiles and flooring adhesive in the basement mechanical room at City Hall. Immediate testing of the materials confirmed that both the tiles and the adhesive were asbestos containing materials. This mechanical room houses one of the building's two primary air handling units, a key component of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. To ensure the safety of City staff and visitors, City Hall was immediately closed while further testing was conducted to determine if asbestos fibers were present in other areas of the facility.

The City hired PBS Engineering and Environmental (PBS) to advise staff, conduct more intensive testing, and ensure that industry best practices were followed in further detection and risk mitigation efforts. Between late April and early July, PBS performed three primary types of tests: air quality, settled dust, and bulk material testing. Testing has resulted in asbestos detection in several locations in the building, including in the HVAC system. No airborne asbestos was detected during air quality tests.

City staff and outside experts worked extensively to identify solutions to address the asbestos contamination and evaluate the best path forward for City Hall. Two scenarios for re-occupying the City Hall building, either fully or partially, were evaluated for timeline, preliminary costs, and impact to City operations. Unfortunately, the cost of both scenarios to re-occupy City Hall exceeded the benefits due to the age and condition of the building.

Islanders are encouraged to stay informed and engaged with the facilities planning process here on Let’s Talk. You can review the Frequently Asked Questions, which includes more information about this project and the closure of City Hall, and submit questions for a response using the Ask a Question feature.

Project Overview

In early 2023, the City of Mercer Island began working on Facilities Conditions Assessments to guide future investment decisions for City facilities and the development of a Long-Range Facilities Plan. These assessments include Mercer Island City Hall, the Public Works Building, the Mercer Island Community and Event Center Annex Building, the Luther Burbank Administrative Building, the Mercer Island Thrift Shop building, and the former Tully’s Building. A second phase will include Facility Conditions Assessments for Fire Station 91, Fire Station 92, and the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.

The assessments will be used to prioritize a comprehensive plan to maintain, repair or replace these buildings to ensure City facilities can deliver municipal programs and services for the next 50 years.

City Hall Closure – April 2023

In April 2023, and in the midst of beginning the Facilities Conditions Assessments, staff visually identified broken floor tiles and flooring adhesive in the basement mechanical room at City Hall. Immediate testing of the materials confirmed that both the tiles and the adhesive were asbestos containing materials. This mechanical room houses one of the building's two primary air handling units, a key component of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. To ensure the safety of City staff and visitors, City Hall was immediately closed while further testing was conducted to determine if asbestos fibers were present in other areas of the facility.

The City hired PBS Engineering and Environmental (PBS) to advise staff, conduct more intensive testing, and ensure that industry best practices were followed in further detection and risk mitigation efforts. Between late April and early July, PBS performed three primary types of tests: air quality, settled dust, and bulk material testing. Testing has resulted in asbestos detection in several locations in the building, including in the HVAC system. No airborne asbestos was detected during air quality tests.

City staff and outside experts worked extensively to identify solutions to address the asbestos contamination and evaluate the best path forward for City Hall. Two scenarios for re-occupying the City Hall building, either fully or partially, were evaluated for timeline, preliminary costs, and impact to City operations. Unfortunately, the cost of both scenarios to re-occupy City Hall exceeded the benefits due to the age and condition of the building.

Islanders are encouraged to stay informed and engaged with the facilities planning process here on Let’s Talk. You can review the Frequently Asked Questions, which includes more information about this project and the closure of City Hall, and submit questions for a response using the Ask a Question feature.

Ask a Question

Do you have a question? Please see the FAQ section for more information. If you have additional questions that you would like addressed, please submit here [NOTE: Questions do not appear publicly until answered]

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  • Share Hello, is the city removing trees behind the city hall property abutting 40th? on Facebook Share Hello, is the city removing trees behind the city hall property abutting 40th? on Twitter Share Hello, is the city removing trees behind the city hall property abutting 40th? on Linkedin Email Hello, is the city removing trees behind the city hall property abutting 40th? link

    Hello, is the city removing trees behind the city hall property abutting 40th?

    Ryan asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for the question! City staff recently removed several trees behind the Public Works Building property after one fell, damaging a piece of water utility infrastructure. Additional declining trees in the area were removed to mitigate the possibility of future failures. 

  • Share Have the old Seven Star Restaurant location, Farmer’s Insurance building, Island Park Elementary School been considered for new homes for our city hall? Just curious. Thanks on Facebook Share Have the old Seven Star Restaurant location, Farmer’s Insurance building, Island Park Elementary School been considered for new homes for our city hall? Just curious. Thanks on Twitter Share Have the old Seven Star Restaurant location, Farmer’s Insurance building, Island Park Elementary School been considered for new homes for our city hall? Just curious. Thanks on Linkedin Email Have the old Seven Star Restaurant location, Farmer’s Insurance building, Island Park Elementary School been considered for new homes for our city hall? Just curious. Thanks link

    Have the old Seven Star Restaurant location, Farmer’s Insurance building, Island Park Elementary School been considered for new homes for our city hall? Just curious. Thanks

    Linda S asked 12 months ago

    The City is currently considering a wide range of options that will result in a responsible, efficient, and sustainable future for City Hall operations. While much of the planning related to real estate transactions must be conducted confidentially through the City’s broker, community engagement on the long-term options to replace City Hall is anticipated in 2024 and all Islanders are encouraged to stay updated and engaged here on Let’s Talk.

Page last updated: 22 May 2024, 10:25 PM