Deadline Extended for Parks Levy Pro and Con Committee Recruitment
The deadline to apply to serve on the Pro or Con Committee for the Parks Levy Renewal has been extended to noon on Friday, July 15, allowing additional time for interested individuals to submit an application.
On June 21, 2022, the Mercer Island City Council directed the City Manager to prepare a parks levy renewal ordinance for placement on the November 8, 2022 ballot. The City Council is anticipated to approve a final ballot measure ordinance on July 19, 2022.
Councilmembers voted unanimously for a ballot measure that includes the base parks levy, full funding for the playground replacements, and funding for all Pioneer Park Forest Management Plan projects except for the second phase of tree planting. The total proposed annual parks levy renewal amount is $1,629,332 in 2023.
The existing parks levy, passed by voters in 2008, 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.
King County Elections and Washington State Law establishes that the City of Mercer Island may organize the appointment of committees to prepare statements in favor of and in opposition to ballot measures. The City is seeking applications from interested community members to serve in these roles.
Pro and Con Committees Requirements
Each committee will be limited to three members. The primary role of each committee is to prepare a statement in favor of or in opposition to the ballot measure respectively.
Each committee is required to submit their respective statements (200-word/four paragraphs limit) to King County Elections by August 9, 2022. Rebuttal statements (75-word/two paragraph limit) are due by August 11, 2022. All materials are due by 4:30pm on the day of the deadline.
Recruitment Period Extended
To give ample time for more applicants to complete the process, the deadline for the recruitment has been extended to 12:00pm on Friday, July 15.
How to Apply for Pro or Con Committees
If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please apply by submitting an application (available here) to City Clerk Andrea Larson by email (cityclerk@mercerisland.gov) or mail (Andrea Larson, 9611 SE 36th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040) before 12:00pm on July 15, 2022. Please limit your application statement to 300 words.
The City Council will review the applications and make appointments to the Pro and Con Committees at the regular City Council Meeting on July 19, 2022.
Additional information and applications are available online at: https://letstalk.mercergov.org/parks-levy-renewal. Requests for an application can also be made by calling: 206-275-7795.
