2022 Parks Levy Renewal

King County Elections officially certified the passage of Proposition 1 (the parks levy) on November 29, with a result of 64.27% in favor of the measure. As a result of the passage of Prop 1, City Council approved an updated 2023 – 2024 budget inclusive of the revenue and goals of the parks levy on December 6th.

The parks levy will continue to fully fund the operation and maintenance of Luther Burbank Park, while also supporting operations and maintenance of all other parks, athletic facilities, and open space across Mercer Island.

The new parks levy includes additional funding for forest management at Pioneer Park and Engstrom Open Space. Over the next two years the City will enroll an additional 13 acres in comprehensive multi-year weed and ivy removal, in addition to continued follow-up treatment of 10 acres enrolled in 2022. City staff anticipate planting 900 trees and shrubs through 2024.

Finally, the City plans to use playground replacement parks levy funding over the next two years to replace play equipment at Deane’s Children’s Park and Roanoke Park. Community outreach and design will begin in early 2023, with construction continuing through 2024.

Last week, Mercer Island voters cast their ballots in the November 8, 2022 General Election, which included the City's proposed parks levy renewal (Proposition 1). As of November 15, 2022, the parks levy renewal is passing with 64.12% majority support. King County will certify the election results on November 29, 2022.

The renewed parks levy will continue current funding for parks operations and maintenance while adding fudning for playground repacements and Pioneer Park forest management over the next 16 years. The current parks levy, which has been in place since 2009, will end one year early to avoid duplication.

"This levy provides critical funding to maintain and strengthen our parks and public spaces," City Manager Jessi Bon said. "We are honored Islanders passed Proposition 1 with a strong majority - this investment represents a commitment to top-notch public spaces for all on the Island, and I'd like to personally thank our community for the support."

Proposition 1 will take effect on January 1st, 2023, once the election results have been certified by King County.

The City is allowed to develop a one-page fact sheet related to upcoming ballot measures. The fact sheet developed by the City for Proposition No. 1, the upcoming parks levy renewal ballot measure on the November 8, 2022 General Election ballot, can be found here.

At their Tuesday, July 19 regular meeting, the City Council adopted a Parks Levy Renewal Ordinance (Ord. No. 22-13) to officially place a levy renewal proposition on the November 2022 ballot. Voters will decide on the renewal at that election.

The City of Mercer Island parks system is currently supported by an annual parks levy. This levy provides just over $980,000 in funding for parks operations and maintenance, in addition to capital projects. The current levy, approved in 2008, is set to expire at the end of 2023.

The existing parks levy is set to expire at the end of 2023, and as such, Council also adopted a resolution stating the City's intent to end the current parks levy one year early if voters approve the parks levy renewal at the November 8, 2022 election (Res. No. 1628). This ensures the two levies are not overlapping.

Additionally, Council appointed members to the parks levy Pro and Con Committees to prepare community statements in support of and opposition to the levy renewal (Res. No. 1629).

*Broken link to Ord. No. 22-13 updated on 7/29/2022

The Parks Levy Renewal was discussed for a second time during the regular City Council meeting on June 21, 2022. City Council first considered this item at their June 7, 2022 meeting, where they requested additional information on the renewal process and requested City staff prepare several scenarios for what a parks levy renewal could provide the community.

City Manager Jessi Bon shared a presentation providing additional information on two parks levy options under consideration, in addition to the base parks levy. Option 1 includes funding for 15 playground replacements over the next 16 years. Option 2 includes increased funding to support the projects identified in the Pioneer Park Forest Management Plan. Both levy options were presented with four funding levels for City Council consideration. Bon presented information on the impact of each of the options and the various funding levels with support from Deputy Public Works Director Alaine Sommargren.

Ultimately, Councilmembers voted unanimously directing the City Manager to prepare for the Council an ordinance authorizing a special election on November 8, 2022 for a ballot measure that includes the base parks levy, full funding for the playground replacements, and funding for all of the Pioneer Park Forest Management Plan projects except for the second phase of tree planting. The total proposed annual parks levy renewal amount is $1,629,262 in 2023. The existing parks levy provides just over $980,000 in annual funding for maintenance and operations of Luther Burbank Park in addition to supporting operations at all City parks, open spaces, trails, and recreation facilities. The current parks levy also funds capital projects at Luther Burbank Park, Pioneer Park and open spaces across Mercer Island.

The current levy, approved in 2008, is scheduled to expire at the end of 2023. Should the November 8, 2022 parks levy renewal pass, City Council will need to take action to set its 2023 levy by the end of 2022, which will involve ending the current parks levy one year early and replacing it with the newly approved parks levy. This will occur as part of the biennial budget process.

You can watch the Council discussion and action on the parks levy renewal, and find Council Packet and presentation materials on the City's website. Follow along with the levy renewal process here on Let’s Talk for continued updates.

The first reading of the ordinance to place the parks levy renewal measure on the November 8, 2022 ballot will occur at the July 5, 2022 City Council meeting.

June 7, 2022 - The City of Mercer Island parks system is currently supported by an annual parks levy - this levy provides just over $980,000 in funding for parks operations and maintenance, in addition to capital projects. The current levy, approved in 2008, is set to expire at the end of 2023.

During their June 7 regular meeting, City Council discussed options to renew the parks levy. City Manager Jessi Bon, who led the parks levy presentation, recommended placing the levy renewal on the November 8, 2022 ballot - a full year ahead of the expiration of the current levy.

“The City adopted the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan earlier this year, which provides us the strategic guidance to prepare the levy renewal,” Bon said. “The current parks levy funded critical reinvestments in the parks system over the past 13 years, and the Island benefited greatly from the community's investment and support through the parks levy.”

The current parks levy funds the maintenance and operation of Luther Burbank Park in addition to supporting operations at all City parks, open spaces, trails, and recreation facilities. The current levy also funds capital projects at Luther Burbank Park, Pioneer Park, and open space areas across Mercer Island.

Bon’s recommendation to Council includes a base levy renewal, which proposes to continue the current parks levy to sustain maintenance and investments.

Council also discussed two funding options in addition to the base levy proposal: additional funding to support playground replacement projects, and increasing funding to support long-term Pioneer Park restoration work.

You can view the Council discussion on the parks levy renewal as well as the Council Packet materials online.

Council will continue their discussion on the parks levy renewal at the June 21, 2022 meeting.

The City of Mercer Island Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan, (PROS Plan), is an update to the 2014 Plan that builds on the previously completed planning work and incorporates the feedback from an extensive community engagement process conducted in 2020 and throughout 2021. This Plan creates a vision for an innovative, inclusive, and interconnected system of parks, trails, and open space that promotes recreation, health, environmental conservation, and fiscal responsibility as integral elements of a thriving, livable Mercer Island.

The PROS Plan serves as a blueprint for the growth, enhancement, and management of the City of Mercer Island parks and recreation system and assists in guiding decisions related to planning, acquiring, developing, and maintaining parks, open space, trails, and recreational facilities. This plan also identifies priorities for recreation programs, special events, and arts and cultural activities.

The 2021 PROS Plan provides updated system inventories, demographic conditions, needs analyses, and a comprehensive capital project list. The Plan identifies parks and recreation goals and establishes a long-range capital plan for the Mercer Island parks and recreation system, including action items and strategies for implementation over the next six to 10 years. The recommendations in this Plan are based on community input, evaluations of the existing park system, operating conditions, and fiscal considerations.

Click here to learn more about the PROS Plan.