MI Weekly 2026-02-04
CITY GOVERNMENT
February 4, 2026
See below for a reprint of the City of Mercer Island's weekly email, the MI Weekly.
Other than minor format changes, all content on this page comes from that email and is credited to the City of Mercer Island.
Lake Cleanup Continues After Historic Floods
Report Finds Island Emissions Have Decreased
Helping Kids Navigate Distressing News
Thrift Shop Seeks Volunteers
Celebrate Lunar New Year
Pet of the Week: Freyja
206-275-7600
City of Mercer Island | 9611 SE 36th Street | Mercer Island, WA 98040 US
Lake Cleanup Continues After Historic Floods
Recent historic flooding of the Cedar River has washed hundreds of trees, large logs, and other debris into Lake Washington, creating severe navigational hazards for boaters and seaplanes. The Mercer Island Police Department’s Marine Patrol Unit is using its capabilities to lead the cleanup effort in its area of jurisdiction, which includes the waters around Renton, Bellevue, and the Island
This effort will continue through the spring, primarily because of the tedious and time-intensive nature of the process to locate, secure, and tow large logs to shore, which are then hauled away by Public Works crews. To date, approximately 800 cubic yards of material has been removed from the lake. To facilitate this operation, the Mercer Island Boat Ramp remains closed.
To report free-floating logs or other large debris, call the non-emergency line at (425) 577-5656 or leave a message at (206) 275-7909. Residents who have logs that have collected along private docks and shorelines are encouraged to remove them as soon as possible (contact a landscape company or boat tow service), as they can drift back into open water and create additional hazards
Report Finds Island Emissions Have Decreased
In 2023, the City of Mercer Island adopted a Climate Action Plan, with a goal to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An element of the plan is to track annual emissions across the Island to gauge the effectiveness of reduction efforts. The latest report analyzing 2024 emissions levels was recently published, undertaken in partnership with the Eastside Climate Partnership.
The report shows significant progress, with community-wide emissions declining by 15% since 2019 despite a 6% increase in population, although 2024 emissions dropped by less than 1%. The City has also made strides in lowering emissions produced by its operations, notching a 55% decrease since 2019, including 14% just from last year.
Higer rates of zero-emission vehicle adoption, fewer people commuting post-pandemic, and Puget Sound Energy's shift toward cleaner energy sources are a few factors driving these reductions. Read the full report on the City’s website.
Helping Kids Navigate Distressing News
Youth are increasingly exposed to frightening stories in the media, which they can easily access via smart phones. Unfortunately, they may not be able to fully understand the meaning or implications of certain stories, which can create anxiety. In response, the City of Mercer Island’s Department of Youth and Family Services has developed a set of tips and principles for parents to use when discussing unsettling and disturbing news with their children.
“Parents can help kids understand the frightening stories they are seeing in the media by addressing issues head-on, talking factually in an age-appropriate manner, and modeling calm,” YFS Administrator Derek Franklin said. Learn how to start a constructive conversation by visiting the Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative website.
Thrift Shop Seeks Volunteers
Since 1975, the Mercer Island Thrift Shop has relied on volunteers to help operations run smoothly. In fact, for many years all operations were volunteer-powered. This history was born out of a community passion to make mental health and school-based services accessible and affordable for all Mercer Islanders, across all generations, with a portion of the shop's net sales benefitting the City of Mercer Island's Department of Youth and Family Services.
The Thrift Shop is actively recruiting volunteers to join an existing network of committed individuals who regularly donate their time. Volunteers perform a variety of important tasks, including assisting donors with loading donated items into carts, processing donations behind the scenes, working on the sales floor by tagging and hanging merchandise, serving as a cashier, and many more roles. Get started today by completing a volunteer application.
Celebrate Lunar New Year
It’s the Year of the Fire Horse in 2026, and the City of Mercer Island is partnering with the Mercer Island Chinese Association to host a Lunar New Year Celebration! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center, this free, family-friendly event will feature cultural performances (including lion dances), fantastic food, games and activities (including lantern-making), and other festivities. The Lunar New Year, one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, traditionally marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Pet of the Week: Freyja
We are partnering with Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) to highlight an adoptable pet each week. Learn more about this pet and many others.
Hi, my name is Freyja, and I'm available for adoption! I'm a 5-year-old white and gray pittie (ID #731670). At 50 lbs., I'm considered a large breed dog. Though I can be shy at first, I am a goofy playful friend with a heart of gold. I lived with another dog my size so I can likely live with another dog with proper introductions. I keep my kennel immaculate and appear to be potty trained, and I am super gentle with my stuffies!
I am spayed, current on vaccinations, and microchipped! My adoption comes with many benefits, including 30 days of opt-in pet insurance through Trupanion. My reduced adoption fee includes a King County pet license (if applicable), which helps facilitate my safe return home should I become lost, and provides additional benefits, including Vacation Pet Alert, Free Ride Home, and more! Visit the pet licensing webpage for more information.
If you and your family are ready to fall in love with my pawesome self, please come down to RASKC to visit me
Contact RASKC at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or by email. To meet potential pets for adoption, visit RASKC:
Hours: Mon-Fri 12 to 5 p.m.; Sat-Sun 12 to 4 p.m.
Location: 21615 64th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032