Councilmember Craig Reynolds Shares Meeting Recap: 2026-06-02
CITY GOVERNMENTFEATURED
In this column, Council Member Craig Reynolds shares his perspective on recent issues before the Mercer Island City Council as well as insight in to how he votes and shapes city planning and policies.
June 2, 2026 Council Meeting Update
Another Mercer Island City Council meeting is a wrap.
On June 2, 2026, the City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. All seven councilmembers were present, with Councilmembers Anderl and Reynolds participating remotely. Key agenda items included:
AB 6949: AWC Annual Meeting Voting Delegate
AB 6936: Renewal of Interim Development Regulations Related to Middle Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units (Ordinance No. 26-05 First Reading)
AB 6937: Public Hearing on Interim Regulations Related to Unit Lot Subdivisions (SB 5258) in Title 19 MICC (First Reading, Ordinance No. 26-06)
AB 6938: Public Hearing of MICC Title 5 Amendments Anti-Displacement Measures (First Reading, Ord. No. 26C-07)
My take on each of these issues is below. But in summary, it was a pretty routine meeting with no hot button issues.
You can offer feedback on these or any city policy issue via email to council@mercerisland.gov. If you have an issue with city services rather than policy matters, please email customerservice@mercerisland.gov.
AB 6949: AWC Annual Meeting Voting Delegate
I list this first not because it is the most important, but rather because it was listed first on the agenda. AWC is the Association of Washington Cities, and together with Sound Cities Association, it is one of the important entities that allow the voice of cities to be heard at the state legislature. Both these organizations allow cities to work together to solve common problems and capitalize on economies of scale. The Council unanimously elected Councilmembers Hsieh and Weinberg to be our representatives to the AWC annual meeting later this month.
AB 6936: Renewal of Interim Development Regulations Related to Middle Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units (Ordinance No. 26-05 First Reading)
The Planning Commission and the City Council have been exceptionally busy with land use matters related to the Growth Management Hearings Board ruling. Consequently, we have had to rely on various interim regulations to keep us in compliance with evolving state regulations. This was a routine renewal of the interim regulations.
AB 6937: Public Hearing on Interim Regulations Related to Unit Lot Subdivisions (SB 5258) in Title 19 MICC (First Reading, Ordinance No. 26-06)
Like the prior issue, this was a routine six month extension of temporary regulations. We all find the temporary rulemaking ineffecient and frustrating, but it is the best we can do.
AB 6938: Public Hearing of MICC Title 5 Amendments Anti-Displacement Measures (First Reading, Ord. No. 26C-07)
See my pre-meeting write up for a summary of this issue. This agenda item was notable for some inside-baseball issues. Councilmembers Anderl and Reynolds each offered amendments to the measure, with each seconding the other's amendment. Both amendments were passed unanimously.
The Anderl-Reynolds amendment reduced the mandatory notification period on rent increases of more than 3% from 180 days (in the draft code) to 120 days.
The Reynolds-Anderl amendment changed the 3% increase threshold from a "per increase" basis to a cumulative per year" basis. (Thus preventing landlords from circumventing the notification requirements by making a series of not-quite-3% increases over the course of the year.
Notably also, we had ONE public comment (someone concerned about the proposed 180 day language), which is one more that we usually get for public comment at hearings.
Councilmember Reports
Deputy Mayor Becker mentioned attending an ARCH elected officials meeting
Councilmember Weinberg reported on his next open brunch: June 20 at HAPS at Noon. He also updated the Council on a recent K4C (King County Cities Climate Collaboration) meeting -- a group he leads.
Councilmember Hsieh reported on a PSRC (Puget Sound Regional Council) general assembly meeting, First Friday Art Walk, and Wear Orange Friday. Her next community coffee is June 10 at ASA at 11:00 AM.