City Council Selects Parks Levy Renewal Measure

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.