Get Involved With the City
GET INVOLVED
Democracy is not a spectator sport. There are always ways for YOU to get involved and impact the direction of our City. The most important thing is to stay informed. We hope to maintain this site as a source of timely and objective news.
You can use your voice. Members of the community are always welcome at City Council meetings. You can request an opportunity to speak for up to three minutes (virtually or in person) at any Council or Board and Commission meeting by sending an email to cityclerk@mercerisland.gov.
You can use your keyboard. Emails to the council are always welcome at council@mercerisland.gov. Or you can write to individual councilmembers at firstname.lastname@mercercisland.gov. To facilitate compliance with public records requirements, please avoid using council members’ personal email addresses, texting about city business, or using instant messaging apps when discussing city business. Please also be patient with councilmembers who may be relatively silent on social media, where anyone can post comments without prior fact-checking by an editorial staff, as it is very hard to remain compliant with public records rules when using social media. Please also remember that everything you write to council, staff, or board and commission members about city business is a public record -- no matter the format or account used -- and must be released if a member of the public makes a request.
You can use your time. Volunteer for a city board or commission. The City of Mercer Island has five advisory boards and commissions that advise the City Council, including:
Arts Council
Open Space Conservancy Trust
Parks & Recreation Commission
Planning Commission
Utility Board
The City Council appoints applicants each May to vacant or expiring positions. Applications for appointment are only accepted during an open recruitment.
Interested in volunteering? Questions? Email the City Clerk. Or reach out to any City Councilmember to learn more about the role and expectations.
Finally, consider running for office. Filing for the November 2027 election will happen in May of 2027. Email a current City Councilmember if you would like to learn more. Most would be happy to discuss this option with you if you might be interested.